A few questions about HPV - Looking for an M.D. to answer please?

Question

I had an abnormal pap and went for the colposcopy today. The doctor said I have hpv and sent in samples to be biopsied. I have been with my current boyfriend for 5 months now. He does not know the results yet. With my history, it is likely I got it from him as I was in a longterm relationship before him. My questions are these.....

#1 - Will he always be a carrier for the rest of his life?

#2 - Can we pass it back and forth to each other, you know, mine clears up and then he reinfects me?

#3 - How will this affect our sex life? Will we always have to use condoms to help prevent me from getting a breakout and raising my risks of cancer?

I really care about this guy and want the relationship to continue, but I am scared about my risks concerning cancer. I will have to wait 2 weeks to get results from the biopsies and am already very anxious. If it doesn't work out between us, what about future partners?? Is this what I have to worry about the rest of my life???

Answer 1

I'm not a doctor , but this issue has concerned me for many years. My bestfriend found out she had HPV during her senior year of high school. that is 6 years ago now. Nobody really knew about it back then.
1) yes you can pass it back and forth. so, condoms are a must. my friend was really good about it. She kept dating the same guy that gave it to her for 4 years after she found out she had it. They never stopped using condoms even though he was treated for hpv also.
However, when they broke up she met her husband. she told him that she had HPV and they didn't use condoms. He never got it, and it never came back for her.
Your system should clear it up after a few years and all the cell have been removed from your cervix.
just make sure to go to your six month exams. I have since had 2 other friends who got it. Maybe their cases were less severe however, their doctors acted like it wasn't that big of a deal.
good luck.

Answer 2

hello hun my name is danielle i am part of a support group and now almost everything there is to no about hpv answers to your questions.
1 tell him you have hpv yes he will be a carrier for life and will spread it to others if sexually active. You can pass it back an forth but you both have the same virus unless there is a low risk type one of u may have and could get genital warts. dont worry about the passiing back and fourth. your sex life should be fine sex does not raise you cancer risks. if you care about this guy be truthful to him but no your facts about this before u blurt it out like I HAVE HPV he will not no what it is and will freak out,. go to www.tell-someone.com and request your free information packet about hpv its great. yes the rest of your life you will carry hpv but theres no detection in men so he could of giving it yo u so goo luck hun. email me if u want some support or ?'s u need answered i have high risk alson for 10 years now its nerve racking but just get your paps every six months or as doc recomemds [e-mail] emal me whenever you want i will help u through this good luck i just had my biopsy done 2 days ago so hopefully there wont be any precancerous cells

Answer 3

I also don't think that a doctor can legally answer this question because then, by definition, you would be their patient and they would be liable. You are unlikely, therefore, to get a real MD to answer.

Here are some comments, though.

There are many strains of HPV, and only a few are thought to have a causal link to cancer. The poster who replied and cited information about warts is partially incorrect, in that the strains that cause visible warts are not thought to be related to cancer.

It is likely that you or your boyfriend are now both carriers of the virus, and as another poster mentioned, this is a virus and potentially is with you forever. You should definitely inform him of your status but be prepared with the facts first, or else he might freak out and not understand the true nature of the problem. I have been told that many women's immune systems are strong enough to essentially suppress the virus after the initial attack, which I believe to be true but you should ask your doctor.

The fact is that a large percentage of females and males now carry the virus. Many women I've dated have told me up-front that they have encountered this at one point. Many women have one abnormal pap and never have one again. I believe that most gynecologists will recommend more frequent pap smears, but that's it.

Since you both are likely to have the virus, it seems unlikely to me that wearing condoms will make a difference. Other people may lambast me for saying that since condoms are a generally safe practice, but the fact is that once you carry the virus, you may have abornmal paps again, or may not, and if you're with the same trustworthy person you're probably much safer than you would be using condoms with a stranger.

I think that you have to go to a doctor to get authentic medical advice, but prepare yourself with information because even many doctors are ignorant about this issue. Other than that, here are some things to remember:

1. HPV is a virus; there is no known cure, despite many quack claims to the contrary.
2. There are many strains of HPV, not all cause cancer, and not all cause warts. Condoms help, but do not prevent all HPV transmission. Warts in particular can be transmitted through genital contact which may occur despite condom use, such as when parts of the uncovered male genitalia contact the outer parts of the female genitalia during intercourse.
3. Please inform yourself so that when you inform your boyfriend you can do so intelligently. He will appreciate the knowledge.
4. HPV is extremely common and unfortunate as it is, is practically a rite of passage. As long as you work with your health care provider and continue to monitor via regular visits to the gyno, you have a huge leg up.
5. Your awareness of this problem is a positive thing; you will make better decisions in the future.
6. It's not the end of the world. It might feel so now, but you will get through this.

7. You should probably mention this to future partners, again, prepared with information on the topic. In my opinion, you are not likely to be rejected by a future partner because of this form of HPV. When my girlfriend told me about this, I was young and uninformed, and she had all the facts laid out and it made me feel very good about the situation. We stayed together for a year after that and our breakup had nothing to do with it. Since then, I've dated two other girls who have had this experience and I believe it has touched at least 2/3 girls I am friends with.

Answer 4

There are already some really great answers to this question, but I just want to add one more thing - you've been with your current boyfriend for five months, so chances are, he's probably infected now, if he wasn't to begin with. It's very difficult to test for HPV in men, so chances are, you'll never really know for sure if he's infected. Also, HPV can stay dormant in your system for years, which means that you could have been infected by any guy that you've ever been with up until this point and just not known.

Cervical cancer is a very slow growing cancer, so as long as you continue getting routine pap tests, you should be just fine. Good luck to you.

Answer 5

Follow the link

Answer 6

if i'm remembering correctly, once you have hpv you always have it. you can not be "cured" of it. you can just get rid of the warts. so more than likely you both have it now, reagardless of who started with it. you definitely need to use protection in the future.

Answer 7

Wow. 325

Answer 8

I dint read your whole Q. but I don't believe that M.D's can legally answer this for you but i may be wrong good luck