Is HPV an STD?

Question

In the beginning of my pregnancy, I had an abnormal pap smear. My OBGYN gave me a colposcopy and told me I have HPV. She explained about cervical cancer, etc, but I'm still not too clear on this. Is HPV a sexually transmitted disease? How did I get it? Can I spread it?

Answer 1

yes it's std

Genital HPV infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Human papillomavirus is the name of a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different strains or types. More than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted, and they can infect the genital area of men and women including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), or anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix, or rectum. Most people who become infected with HPV will not have any symptoms and will clear the infection on their own.

Some of these viruses are called "high-risk" types, and may cause abnormal Pap tests. They may also lead to cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis. Others are called "low-risk" types, and they may cause mild Pap test abnormalities or genital warts. Genital warts are single or multiple growths or bumps that appear in the genital area, and sometimes are cauliflower shaped.
pproximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.

Answer 2

HPV is absolutely an STD. In fact, it is one of the most common STDs out there today. I've read about 75-80% of the world has it, and only about 20some% know they have it. It can take months and even years, if at all, for symptoms of the virus to show up. That is why it is spread so easily, most people don't realize they have it and can spread it around for years not realizing they have the virus.

It is usually spread by sex, but can also be spread by direct skin to skin contact with warts (whether is be genital, hand, feet, etc). And yes, you can spread it. If you have sex with someone, protected or not, you can spread it to them. Condoms are the best protection against spreading HPV but it is not 100% effective.

Now that you know you have it, it's important that you get a pap smear at least once a year. Pap smears are the best thing a women can do to detect any abnormal cells on the cervix, which can turn into cervical cancer. 4,000 women die every year from cervical cancer. It's the second most common type of cancer in women, after breast cancer.


***Also, you can NOT get HPV from a public bathroom like someone above said. HPV is ONLY transmitted sexually. They ONLY STD you can get from a public toilet seat is pubic lice (crabs) and even this is really rare.

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

HPV can take a very very long time to show up in men and women. You could have gotten from your first sexual partner and it remained dormant or you might not get warts on the outside. Or you could just get tiny lesions. Also when being tested it is very hard to test for HPV unless you have an actual wart. I suggest that you boyfriend also go to the doctors so they can check his out as well. Talk to your doctor about gardisil and other things you can do to prevent cervical cancer. I hope everything works out at your doctor visit!

Answer 5

Yes, HPV is an "STD" but you can get it form many ways like pubic bathrooms. Just because you have HPV doesn't mean that you will get cervical cancer (I have it too, but never got cancer, my body was able to keep it in check). It is very hard to spread it from a woman to a man, but easy the other way. If you are concerned, talk with your doctor more, they can and should answer any questions you have. And congratulations on the pregnancy!

Answer 6

Yes HPV is an STD. You got it from having having sex wether it be unprotected or not. Yes you can spread it. I have it and so do tens of millions more. Its really not a big deal except for the fact that it could inhibit you from having children in the future do to blockage at the cervix that prevents sperm from entering. Just keep up on the pap smeers annually and do what the doctor tells you to.

Answer 7

Yes. Men have no symptoms and are not aware that they carry it, but they pass it to a woman during unprotected sex. Another good reason to have protected sex until you are in a committed relationship, and have both been tested.

All men need to be tested to prevent the spread of HPV.

HPV is associated with a high incidence of cervical cancer.

Answer 8

Yes, it is sexually transmitted. I don't care what doctors now a days say...it is NOTHING to worry about. I went through the research study for 6 years. Dr. Michael Campion did world wide research. I have #16 which they say is the worse one to have. The paps at first just give you worry and more worry...then after they have studied and tested and medicated you...they realize...you are fine. They told me I could spread it..so my husband went to a urologist and had a colposcopy and after the test, he said..."I don't know why you all are so worried. This HPV is nothing." It is a new word, but it has been around a long time. It is also often falsely diagnosed. Have a recheck on your pap.
p.s. don't get the vaccine...research it...it is only experimental.
p.p.s. I have had 2 healthy pregnancies since this research study.

Answer 9

Yes it is an STD. You got it from one of your previous contacts. Yes you can spread it. Not all types of HPV cause cancer, but all can be spread to other people.

Answer 10

HPV is an STD. You got it from having sex (it's still possible to get it even if you use a condom). You can spread it by having unprotected sex.