I think i might have HPV?

Question

In November i had a pap smear done and the result was abnormal. I was too scared to go back and so i havent been. The doctor that did the pap smear is unable to do another one because of the circumstances the first test was done under. So i need to go to a new doctor and explain to them what is going on. The reason why i think i have HPV is because my ex boyfriend had 2 small bumps on his bits and when we first got together i went for a pap smear and a STD check just to be safe and i told him i wanted him to go too and he said he had had a full check up when he started a job and then when i pointed out the bumps he said he had them checked and they were fine.

My boyfriend and i have since broken up and i dont believe a word that he said and i am so angry. I had re accuring genital symptoms when i was with him none of which i had prior to sleeping with him. Right now i am fine, i have never noticed any warts but at the moment i have slight lower abdominal discomfort.

I am so scared that this is going to make me infertile or give me cancer that will spread through out my body. If i do have HPV should i be angry at my ex boyfriend ?

Also, how do i go about future partners? What happens when i get married? I dont want to infect anyone else if i have HPV but i want to have a life.

Answer 1

So you think you your boyfriend had genital warts. Totally possible. He could have given you the HPV virus. There are strains of the virus that cause genital warts and will also cause transient abnormalities on Pap smears. However, these are NOT the high risk strains of the virus that will cause cancer. I repeat, if he gave you the strain that causes warts, it WILL NOT CAUSE CERVICAL CANCER. There are over 70 strains of HPV, some which are high risk and can cause cervical changes that lead to cancer, some of which cause warts on different places of the body.

3/4 Americans will get a genital strain of HPV in their lifetime, but only 1% will show symptoms.

I wouldn't trust your boyfriend. Get another pap smear. It's possible that he did give you more than 1 strain. He might have given you one of the high risk ones, so it's important you get another pap smear right away to determine if you have precancerous lesions. There are treatments for those, but 1/4 untreated precancerous lesions will lead to cervical cancer.

If you do have it, be honest with future partners. Right now, no one knows for sure if you will have HPV forever. Some good news: 90% of people who test positive for HPV by a very sensitive PCR Assay seem to test negative by the same assay 6-24 months later.

There's no way to be 100% sure that you are no longer contagious, as even if you treat existing warts the virus remains in the surrounding skin. But remember, most people are exposed to the virus in their lifetime and it does them no great harm. Honesty is always the best policy. Being lesion free for several months makes transmission unlikely, and most HPV clears up on its own.

Answer 2

Well dear.. to be honest and upfront with my first point. You shouldn't have taken his word for it. People often lie about their STD testing status these days. The only way to be totally sure is to go with them to the testing facility, and then have them allow you to be in the room when results are read. Because even if they go get tested.. they might lie to you if they just don't care about you! I haven't always followed this advice (am luckily STD free though) -- but if you are unsure of his STD status or faithfulness - use a condom ( female condom since it protects both of your SKIN as well as your genitals) all the time every time..

If you have HPV you aren't truly likely to develop cancer or warts. But you'll need to be vigalente about getting tested and paps.

When do you do find another partner and if you do have HPV you do need to tell them and use appropriate protection -- ie female condoms.

However, there is no reason -- if you do get MARRIED to a person -- and they are totally aware of your infection -- not to infect them. I'm condoning infecting someone with an STD yeah.. But HPV only will give a man warts, and even then he won't necessarily ever develop warts and warts generally aren't painful they just end up needing removed a lot of the time.

The implication however is that in the future if you divorced he could go on to infect other women with HPV.

However, I do hope you don't have HPV. It'd be a lesson to learn though, a hard one and a wake up call to you most likely..

My current boyfriend allowed me in the room when the nurse practitioner read his results before we ever had sex. (after I had a herpes scare with my ex since he cheated on me -- not infected thank goodness) We've been together 2 1/2 years. I get regular paps still though to test for cancer just in case.

Another problem I am going to raise.. What if it's not HPV at all? What if you have cervical cancer and have been dodging the doctor?

An abnormal pap can mean many things -- cancer, STD's, even a flawed test (meaning NOTHING was wrong and you avoided the doctor for no reason.)

GO TO THE DOCTOR DEAR! No matter what it is, you will find that you will feel much better knowing.

Answer 3

if you have HPV and they catch it they can fix it. if you have it and dont take care of it youll get cervical cancer. sometimes when you have a pap smear and it comes out as abnormal and they redo it itll come back fine sometimes. as for the genital warts that wont make you infertile worse case scenerio is that if you have a baby you may need a C section. Btw I had sex with a guy who had herpes and i came out clean. I had a STD test done like 2 years later because like you i was paranoid.

Answer 4

If you wait then you might have complications that could prevent you from having children. It's best to get it taken care of quickly. Not going won't solve anything and may cause HPV cells to change into dysplasia (precancer) or cancer. Talk with your doctor explain your fears and he can make sure you have the right information on everything.

Many women with HPV or early detected cervical cancer go on to have healthy pregnancies and children. But going in for follow up is most important.

Don't let your fear become a reality because you delayed treatment.