what is the hpv virus?

Question

i know it is a virus. thats all i know. but how do you get it and can you get rid of it. my doctor called and said that my pap came back with abnormal cells. and she said she wants me to get tested for cervical cancer, but then someone told me that it could mean that you have herpes. but i know that i dont have herpes. i just want some info about it.. anyone know anything?

Answer 1

The HPV virus is the virus that causes genital warts (usually up in the cervix for a woman). It's transferred from skin to skin contact and can cause cancer in woman. Herpes is a completely different virus. There is no cure for HPV, but the warts can easily be removed.

Answer 2

My sister has HPV so I have listened to her & read some about it. Now, any time you have an abnormal pap most doctors test for HPV which is a virus that can cause cancer. There are many types of HPV & not everyone who has it is guaranteed to develop cancer. You just have to be monitored. It has nothing to do with herpes. Some people, men/woman show signs & some don't--- the signs are warts not herpes (2 different things). HPV can clear on it's own but not always. I think I read over 85% of the population has some form of HPV. However, not everyone knows it. They are working on a vaccination for those who do not yet have HPV. I encourage you to google HPV to educate yourself further. After my sister's bad pap & positive HPV test they did another pap which again showed abnormal cells. They then performed a colposcopy which they did in the office--- she said it was no big deal. That came back fine. Try not to worry but know you can pass it on to others. Good luck!

Answer 3

HPV is a virus that causes genital warts, it is an STD and you get it from skin to skin contact. A lot of people have it and don't even know it. Some people can be married for 20 years and then they all of a sudden show symptoms. It's same thing with HSV (herpes) which are sores on your genitals that you get from skin to skin contact as well. Some one said that HPV is curable, it is NOT! You will have it for the rest of your life. When you are having an outbreak (Visible warts on genitalia) the virus is in the active stage. When you are not having an outbreak it is dormant. You can still pass it to others even though you are showing no signs of having HPV or when it is in the dormant stage. There are 2 (I believe) strains that cause cervical cancer. With proper gyn. appts there is no reason to get cervical cancer. If you come back with a abnormal pap you will get a colposcopy done to have a biopsy of your cervix taken ( I had one, no biggie). Then depending on those results depends on the next step. anymore question feel free to e-mail me.

Answer 4

HPV is NOT herpes. It the Human Paploma Virus and it is curable. An abnormal pap could be an indicator that you have cervical cancer which can be caused by the HPV virus. An abnormal pap is not 100% proof that you have HPV OR cancer. An abnormal pap is an indicator that either something MAY be wrong or that the original test was "off."

I've had a couple of abnormal paps in my life, one in my 20s (nothing was wrong) and the last one. I had a colposcopy (sp?) where they take a biopsy of my cervix and check for cancer and it was inconclusive. I am scheduled to have another pap in Dec to follow up and make sure there's nothing wrong.

Quit looking for answers here and call your Dr. Better yet, go get re-tested and put your mind at ease, one way or another.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

HPV-human papilloma virus
HPV (human papillomavirus) is the primary cause of cervical cancer. Although other factors like smoking can contribute to your risk, most experts agree that the presence of a high-risk type of HPV is necessary.
The HPV virus is very common. However, in most people, the body's immune system fights off or suppresses the virus before it causes problems.
When an HPV infection doesn't go away on its own, certain types of HPV that are "high-risk" can cause cell changes that may develop into cervical cancer if not detected and treated early.

The human papilloma (pronounced "pap-ah-LO-mah") virus, also called HPV, is a common virus that most people get at one point during their lives.

There are more than 100 types of HPV. They usually don't cause any problems. However, when they do, the most frequent result is the common wart, such as those seen on the hands and feet.


About 30 of these HPV types affect the genital area. They are divided into two groups:

"Low-risk" types of HPV
There are about 12 types of HPV that are called "low-risk" because they cannot cause cervical cancer. They can, however, cause genital warts or minor cell changes on the cervix that go away on their own. If you think you have genital warts, talk to your doctor to find out about treatment options.

"High-risk" types of HPV
There are around 15 types of "high-risk" HPV that can cause harmful changes in the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb), which opens into the vagina. These abnormal cell changes, called dysplasia or CIN (the abbreviation for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia), may gradually develop into cervical cancer if not treated.

In most cases, the body's immune system fights off or suppresses the virus before dysplasia or cancer develops. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 70 percent of new HPV infections (including those that are "high risk") go away within one year, and 91 percent are gone within two years. It's only when high-risk types of HPV stay "active" that the risk of developing dysplasia and cervical cancer increases significantly.

Women who have a persistent infection with high-risk HPV are 200-plus times more likely to develop pre-cancerous cervical disease [CIN 3].

I just recently did an event where I informed people of HPV and its effects..........Hope I helped!!!

Answer 7

There are over 100 types of HPV (a.k.a. Human PapillomaVirus) in the world – most of which are harmless. There are 30 types that can be transmitted through sexual contact. Genital warts are soft, moist or flesh colored and appear on the outside or inside of the vagina. They may also appear on or around the penis and anus.

It causes raised bumps or blisters on genitals and can stay in the body and spread to others. It has been linked to several types of cancer, in particular cervical cancer.

May be painless but uncomfortable because of their size or itching.

your body fights the std naturally

Answer 8

Human Papilloma Virus. It's very common but some scientists say it can lead to cervical cancer down the road. There is no way to get rid of it if you have it. They are coming out with a vaccine for it though. I hope you don't have it, but good luck if you do.