Genital HPV and cervical cancer Posted: 07-22-08 19:44pm
I just found out that i have genital hpv,
and im terrified of what that means. i am
supposed to do a pap smear....and im
praying to god that i dont have or develop
cervical cancer.
i read on the internet that the wart
causing genital hpv does not lead to
cervical cancer...is this true???
and this genital hpv....what does it mean
for me????
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Maddie34
Moderator
Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 1823 Location: ,
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Posted: 07-22-08 21:27pm
Genital warts can develop into cancer if
left untreated for a long period of time,
but that seems to be the case for most
genital HPV.
I found a site that seemed to answer your
question and probably any others you may
have.
Quote:
tr>
If I tested
positive for HPV, what does this mean for
me?
Most HPV infections go away without
treatment because the immune system finds
the virus and either gets rid of it or
suppresses it to the point that it never
returns to cause problems. Cell changes
that may eventually lead to cervical
cancer only occur when this does not
happen and HPV stays for many years. Even
though HPV is found in cervical cancer,
most people testing positive for HPV are
not at risk for getting cervical cancer
because they have the virus for only a
short time (months rather than many
years). Therefore, women with a normal Pap
who test positive for HPV will usually be
tested for HPV again in 6-12 months.
Testing positive a second time does not
mean that there is great risk of cervical
cancer, or even of cell changes that may
lead to cervical cancer, but it does mean
that further evaluation will likely be
recommended.
thank you for your reply Maddie34, i have
been stalking this page all night waiting
for a reply.
im still very much freaked out and scared
and depressed, but my bf is being very
supportive, and i am doing my pap smear
tomorrow.
will keep you informed
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Maddie34
Moderator
Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 1823 Location: ,
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Posted: 07-22-08 22:03pm
No problem. Thanks for keeping us updated.
Just remember that HPV doesn't always mean
cancer. Remember to ask your doctor any
questions you have to help prevent any
abnormal changes in your cervix. Again,
good luck!
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Kryssja
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 56
Posted: 07-23-08 09:14am
If anyone reading this post has more
information to add, please do. i am still
very much freaked out and worried.
i also feel dirty and ashamed and i
dont know why....i have always been
careful in terms of sexual contact, but
according to some stuff i read on the net,
this may not be from the exchange of
fluids, but just contact....i am concerned
about passing this on to my bf....who has
been very supportive....but what happens
when we want to have kids? as we are
planning to get married in the future and
all that.
i spoke with a doctor who assured me that
almost 70-80% of us (men and women) have
it and just dont know cause they dont get
symptoms.
oh lord....im just feeling so depressed
and at the end of my rope right now....i
have an injured ankle that just has not
gotten better over the past 10 years, and
im still in the process of having doctors
try meds and blood tests to try figure it
out...
right now im typing this and im crying and
i cant stop.....
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Carifairy
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 2610 Location: Charlotte n.c.
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Posted: 07-24-08 10:14am
There is no reason that you cannot have
children!
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Kryssja
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 56
Posted: 07-24-08 17:44pm
i have a question that may seem silly, but
i have to ask. My bf is a big fan of oral
sex, and i wanted to know if there is any
danger of him developing warts in his
mouth or around his face from oral sex if
i have genital warts. and vice versa - can
i develop warts in or around my mouth if
he has them on his penis?
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bubblycat
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
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This is what happened to me, dont wanna freak you out though Posted: 07-26-08 20:48pm
I know how you feel. I had genital warts
when i was in my young teens, i didnt have
any kind of treatment, they just cleared
up by themselves. Im now 34, have a
wonderful daughter and all my paps have
been normal until now. I went docs today
as my last pap showed some ab-normalities
and had a cervical biopsy. My doctor told
me everything looked pretty healthy but
we'll see. There are 100 different types
of HPVs out there so its best to be
checked regularly. Good luck and dont
worry too much, but do keep getting
checked. My mum was diagnosed with
cervical cancer at age 35 and they removed
it successfully and she had two children
after that. About the oral sex, Im not
totally sure, but if i were you id wait
till i was cleared up.
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Roberta777
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
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HPV Posted: 07-26-08 21:39pm
is a virus and as others have mentioned,
many people can carry the virus and not
even know. I know it came as a real shock
to me to find out I had HPV. But, there
were other warning signs. A very bad
vaginal infection which made me see my
doctor. She tested me and it came back
HPV with the high risk types.
Carifary is right. There are almost 100
HPV strains of virus. Some cause genital
warts. Some are the high risk types;
however, the pap smear is a great and
amazing tool for us women as it shows when
we begin to show changes in our vaginal
health, cervical dysplesia, a changing of
the cellular structure which tells the
doctor to watch out for us.
I believe it is women who do not have the
benefit of a pap smear who eventually
develop cervical cancer. Even when they
find an abnormal cellular growth, they can
remove it. They did with me. These
doctors are good and they look out for us.
It is a blessing that we have the benefit
of this test.
It is true, when you get this news it is
not what you want to hear. But, now,
after over a year, I am no longer afraid.
I passed my second test and it came back
within normal range.
It appears that up to 80% of people are
infected with HPV sometime in their
lifetime. Many people have absolutely no
symptoms and men do not even have a test
to see if they are positive for HPV.
Just live your life and be tested. My
doctor says three more tests, over a
period of 18 months and if it comes back
within normal range, I will be o.k. Still
be HPV positive. I can live with that. I
just wish that people could be honest
enough to admit they have been HPV
positive in the past. Some people do not.
They claim they are free and clear.
Good luck.
Bobbie
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Kryssja
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 56
Posted: 07-26-08 22:55pm
thank you guys so much for your
posts....hearing from fellow hpv-positive
people has made me feel alot better about
it. My mom has been a wonderful source of
support as well as my boyfriend, who has
assured me that i am with someone who
loves me, and he still wants to have sex
with me, so i take that as a good
sign...we do use condoms
though....definitely.
i guess i am still trying to get over the
whole shock of it, but the more i read the
less confused i get. i read that recent
studies have shown that most girls
contract hpv during their first sexual
experience, which i just think is
horrible.
i have to wait 3 to 4 weeks before i get
my pap results, but i am keeping my
fingers crossed that it comes back normal.
i will keep you all posted.
thanks again.
i have been under so much stress with this
thing that i have caused my bronchitis to
flare up, and i am experiencing tension
pains in my neck and face
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Annank7
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Aug 2008 Posts: 3
Posted: 08-08-08 10:31am
I had HPV when I was in college, and trust
me, it is not a big deal unless it goes
unnoticed for 10+ years. If you have
genital warts, there are treatments to get
rid of them. I had the type that CAN cause
cervical cancer, but again only if you
levae it untreated for a LONG time, i had
to have a colposcopy which is when they do
a small biopsy of your cervix to see what
stage the HPV is at. most HPV infections
clear up ON THEIR OWN in 1 year...you can
also get hte vaccine. But 80% of people do
carry the virus and it is undetectable in
men (except for the strain that causes
warts). so don't worry too much, it's not
dirty or weird...just make sure you get
the annual paps and it should clear up on
its own. Mine did.
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bubblycat
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Apr 2008 Posts: 79 Location: ,
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hpv positive Posted: 08-22-08 00:15am
I got my results and i am hpv positive and
still have abnormal cells so have to have
another biopsy in 6 months. I asked my
doc of the risks and she told me that
recent study shows that men might get
throat cancer due to oral sex with partner
who has HPV. My hubby aint into it
unfortunately anyway so hes quite pleased.
Now he has the perfect excuse...haha Also
i want to get pregnant and my doc assured
me that they can do another biopsy even if
i am pregnant. Dont worry too much, its
amazing what they can do these days
especially if its caught early enough.
Good luck!!!