I had a papilloma in my nose a few years back that was removed and visit an ENT Doc to check my throat each year. Pap smears do not show HPV.

Fast forward to our new baby, who is almost 3 months old and exclusively breastfed. Would he contract this virus from me being breastfed? I have read that papillomas in infants can be life threatening. And how in the world do you tell if you have papilloma on your breast with all the lumps and bumps of breast tissue? And finally, I wonder if I'm just worrying needlessly, since papillomas are very common and I cannot find any information that says if you have HPV to not breastfeed.

There are a lot of questions here, so thanks for reading!

Hello joggal

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the most common virus groups in the world to affect the skin and mucosal areas of the body. Over eighty types of HPV have been identified. HPV is one of the most common virus groups in the world to affect the skin and mucosal areas of the body.

Since HPV travels via skin contact, there is the risk of moving fluids from your nose or mouth to hand, or hands to breasts if you touch yourself later without washing your hands thoroughly.

However though 50-60 percent of US college-aged women have HPV, but only 10 percent have lesions. It is thought that 95 percent of women will get rid of the infection within a year. Perhaps you will have got rid of it too.

Most HPV infections of this type are very common, harmless, non cancerous and easily treatable. Only 10 percent of infections involve cancer-causing strains like HPV-16 which has been implicated in cervical cancer and, more recently, in tonsillar tissue at the back of the throat.

So I would advise you to live normally and take normal hygienic precautions in washing your hands, etc. As I have not heard of HPV being present in breast milk, the sensible advice would be to continue breastfeeding your baby. But please check with your doctor.

Best wishes
Vinod

quote:

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Dr Joshi,

Thank you for your response and the statistical information. My dermatologist checked me today - no papillomas on the breast tissue - also OB nurse said the virus can't be transmitted through breast milk. Also, our family is very big into handwashing, especially me.

Thanks again!
jog gal

Hello Jog Gal,

I just want to congratulate you on choosing to breastfeed your baby and confirm what you've already heard from your doctors, that you are not posing any risk to his health. On the contrary, by nursing him you are supporting and supplementing his immune system, and that will help him stay healthy and resist infections of all kinds!

On the subject of breast self-exams, it gets a little easier after you've been nursing for a few more months. In the early months you are still building a milk supply and your breasts will show a lot of changes; after about six months things settle down and you'll be able to get used to your "new" reality.

(I've nursed two kids, both longer than two years, so I know what the early months are like!)

Best to you and baby!