HPV Question. Important?
817762
My doctor told me that HPV can take years and years to show up as something abnormal on a pap smear. I know for some people they can have positive results right away but I guess for the majority of women who don't have other symptoms is can take years to show up. He actually said it could sometimes take 10-15 years to show up as abnormal cells.\n\nThere is a DNA test they can do at the same time as the pap that can tell you if you have HPV (I don't think it specifies as per the particular strain you have). I have read about this test but my doctor hasn't heard of it (Canada).\n\nSo I guess many would be quick to tell you your boyfried cheated. I am not saying he didn't, cause let's face it- it happens. But yes, it is possible for you to have had HPV from a previous relationship (or he is a carrier of it with no symptoms from a previous relationship). It's also possible that having 2 children  put a strain on your body and it was no longer to keep the virus dormant. \n\nGood luck to you.
253694
A history of HPV infection is believed to be a prerequisite for the development of cervical cancer; according to the American Cancer Society, women with no history of the virus do not develop this type of cancer. However, most HPV infections do not progress to cervical cancer. Because the process of transforming normal cervical cells into cancerous ones is slow, cancer occurs in people who have been infected with HPV for a long time, usually over a decade (Greenblatt, 2005; Sinal and Woods, 2005).\n\nHigh-risk HPV types 16 and 18 are together responsible for over 70% of cervical cancer cases (Baseman and Koutsky, 2005; Cohen, 2005). Type 16 causes 41 to 54% of cervical cancers (Noel et al., 2001; Baseman and Koutsky, 2005) and is also the usual cause of VIN (Edwards et al., 2005) and oropharyngeal cancers (Bolt et al., 2005).\n\nIf a woman has cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, or abnormal (possibly precancerous) cervical cells, a Pap smear can detect them. It is particularly important for women who have abnormal cervical cells to undergo colposcopy so that precancerous and cancerous lesions can be detected and treated early. \n\nSource(s):\n\nhttp://www.wikipedia.com \nThe condition of mild dysplasia or an ascus pap smear result will usually indicte the presence of the high risk strains of HPV genital wart viruses. When diagnosed with this condition it is recommended to have Pap smears and colposcopy every 4-6 months. Treatment is seldom recommended, because the progress to advanced stages usually takes several years and can easily be detected. The disease is linked to the sexually transmitted Human papilloma virus, which causes abnormal cells development. The condition of mild dysplasia or an ascus pap smear result will usually indicte the presence of the high risk strains of HPV genital wart viruses.
175696
Genital warts are caused by Human Papiloma Virus (HPV)  Direct contact with the virus through sexual contact with an affected partner is how the virus is transmitted.  You need not have visible lesions to transmit HPV, and, at this time, there is no way to cmpletely rid yourself of HPV.\n\nTreatment ranges from nothing, to topical medications, to surgical destructon or removal of the lesions as warranted by the specific presentation.\n\nWomen with exposure to HPV are at higher risk than the general population for cervical cancer - so it is very important to have regular PAP smears and pelvic exams.  \n\nWhile you are at that - talk to your doctor about treatments to decrease the appearance of warts as well as how to discuss this with potential partners and minimize the risk of spread.
917129
There is a test now for HPV.  Schedule an appointment with your gynocologist and have it done.  That's the only way you'll ever really know.  Women cannot tell if they have with out the test by the way.
859420
yes i got it. i was very scared because i was always so careful. but my doctor told me that 9 out of 10 people have it. because they have not been able to find hpv in pap smears until about a year ago. hpv is a curable disease. sometimes if your doctor feels you are healthy enough, that it will go away on its on. that happened to me. but i had to go to the gyno every 3 months for testing. my doctor told me that there was two other ways to get rid of it and that was lasor surgury and some type of other device that was a cone they inserted that burned the cells off. i have heard that they have a vaccine that works to boost your immune system. i think it would work. because again mine went away on it on, it took about 6 months. its a slow moving cell, so its takes a while to get rid of them. you will be fine and i wish you luck.
149311
YES IT CAN!  I have HPV and due to the HPV I have already had to have precancerous cells removed.  I suggest going to webmd and giving it a good read.  I learned a lot about HPV.  There are certain strands of it (yes there are MANY different kinds) that are known for causing cervical and uterine cancer.
267363
A good percentage of people who get cervical cancer (somewhere around 80, I think) have it caused by the HPV virus. However, that's obviously not the only cause. So it's still a good idea to get checked out.
823314
i know exactly how you feel girl..the guy that i lost my virginity to actually maybe the guy that gave me hpv it looks as if after i had sex with him that he had clyamidha..and tried to say that i was the one that gave it to him ..which i know is impossible being as he is the first guy i was ever with..i then went and had myself checked for all stds and at that time i had contracted nothing...now i am 31yrs old and always and i do mean always practice safe sex i was recently diagnosed with hpv a year ago due to a abnormal pap smear i evidently do not have the strain that produces genital warts..which im grateful for but it still is such a slap in the face to know that youve always practiced safe sex and that now i have hpv...keep your chin up and i hope that your outbreak clears up soon 8)
737483
HPV is the virus which transmits genital warts but in the vast majority of HPV infections there is nothing visible - and yet - the virus continues to be transmitted.  That is why there is now a 4 valent HPV vaccine for women - which will hopefully prevent many cases of cervical cancer.  Other than cervical cancer the other concern is primarily cosmetic and if you were able to see the growths you would not have asked the question.  The growths look like any other wart.
515693
I have HPV and I have had cervical cancer. They say that HPV can cause cervical cancer (but so do other things - like extended use of birth control pills). HPV is NOT curable. It is a virus and will stay with you the rest of your life. People usually go through life not realizing that they have it because there really are no symptoms. 75% - 80% of the WORLD has HPV. That's why it is spread so easily from person to person. As for cervical cancer...I've be treated for mine, and so far it hasn't come back. Make sure you are getting your annual pap smears done, and if yours comes back abnormal you should be going every 4 months, or more (if your doctor wants). Cervical cancer can be treated, but you need to catch it before it gets really bad. Good luck!
589574
Actually, about 7 in 10 people have HPV.\n\nCheck out http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats/ for stats and surveillance for reportable diseases in the US. You can call your county health dept. for regional data. in fact, they may be able to hlep you put together a presentation, or at least come to your program and present for you. give them a call.
319565
OMG DON"T LISTEN TO THESE IDIOTS!  You do not have to have a c-section. I've had hpv (not HIV) for 10+ years, had numerous cryosurgeries etc.  I have had 3 healthy children vaginally, two were born at home with a midwife in water.  And you know what, it gets better, it's a virus...just like that cold you had last month or the flu that you had got last fall, and especially these kinds of viruses tend to go dormant for years if not forever, I have had clean paps for 3 years now and my practitioner says come visit her every 2 years or so now, and that I'll probably never have to worry about hpv again.  And the latest studies show that some rediculous # like 85%+ of college girls once out of college have one of the over 2000 strains of hpv.  So every tom dick and harry would be having a c-section, even though most doctors push them on people for money reasons and insurance crap (the fear of malpractice-since everyone is so sue crazy these days)  Talk to your practitioner, if you don't like the answer you get, get a 2nd opinion, don't go letting them cut on your body just to scare you and make a few extra bucks.  get a hold of me if you need to talk.  Good luck!
993976
I know it's really scary, but in a way you're lucky that they're visible. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is unfortunately more common than people think, mainly because for some there are no visible symptoms. So you may have gotten it from someone who is not even aware that they have it.\n\nRead the facts in the link below--make an appt with a gynocologist or clinic as soon as you can. They will take off the warts at that same visit and check to see if there are any internal growths that can be taken care of immediately. More importantly, you can start monitoring it with every pap smear since some strains have been linked to cervical cancer.\n\nIn the future, always practice safe sex to protect your partner from HPV and yourself from any other STDs.\n\nhttp://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm
39882
HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can cause warts, an invisible infection only found on pap smear, or, in the worst case scenario, it can cause cervical cancer.  It is important for a woman to have pap smears every year and to keep the number of sexual partners to a minimum to reduce the risk of getting a dangerous strain of the virus.  Men obviously contract the virus too, but they can not be easily diagnosed if they do not have visible warts.  Condoms can reduce transmission, but are not perfect because the virus infects nearby skin too, not just the penus and vagina.
39385
HPV can be spread even without a condom.  Unfortunately there is no way to protect yourself 100% from HPV, although the risk is reduced if a condom is used.  HPV can be active in the skin, even though there are no warts present.  This means that you (or your partner) can have the virus and not even know it.  It stands to reason then, that HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections.  My family doctor told me to just assume that everyone who has had more than 2 sexual partners in his/her lifetime has it.\n\nUPDATE: Based on later answers, I wanted to address mutual m*sterbation.  You CAN get HPV from mutual mast.  HPV warts can be microscopic, invisible to the naked eye.  If you touch your partner's genitals and then touch your own with the same hand, you have most likely just put the HPV virus on your own skin.  Whether or not you will develop warts/lesions is unpredictable.  Some people have HPV but never show any lesions.
1151346
Yeah it's possible.   HPV is very common and it's also the main cause of cervical cancer.  However, nothing is for sure until they get the whole pathology report back.
669976
Actually, when men contract high-risk strains of HPV, it can cause penile or anal cancer (depending on the site of inoulation). These cancers are rare compared to cervical cancer, but should a man get them, he can usually blame HPV.\n\nWarts are a much more common occurance, and that's relative considering that only 1% of people infected with wart-causing HPV strains ever get warts. A vast majority of men serve as a silent reservoir for infection.\n\nThere is NO clinical test for HPV. A few are documented in the literature, but these are done only in the context of major research trials. These tests also involve something called "penis scrapings" (seriously, this is the term in the medical literature). Sorry, the guy who said blood test is WAY WRONG.\n\nADDENDUM: purple, if you know the lab company that manufactures the HPV test you speak of, please list it. Yes, I know of PCR, hell, I've run a few in my day. But AFAIK, such HPV tests are not administered clinically. As it stands, a man simply cannot go to the doctor and get HPV PCR.