I was diagnosed with HPV?

Question

I went for a pap smear and it came back abnormal my Dr. told that i have HPV i have been with my boyfriend for 10 years he has been my only partner. He has had i other. I haven't had a pap for about 5 years. I don't have signs of warts. So what i might have cervical cancer ? We can't pin point for how long i might have had it. So what r my chances of having cancer. And should he get checked ? Does that mean we can't be intimate anymore ? We want another baby, how is that going to affected us. I have to get a colcospy and if anything seems odd i have to under go a biopsy. In other words what is going to happen ?

Answer 1

HPV is very common and is easily treatable. HPV can down the road lead to a type of cervical cancer but is not cancerous itself. It is not something sexually transmitted so I wouldnt worry about that.
Having a calcospy is a little painful but it is to narrow down what type of HPV you have. (there are 80 different forms of it) More than likely you will be fine.

Answer 2

Having HPV (Human Papiloma Virus) does increase the likelihood of you developing cervical cancer, however it's likely that it's been caught early. The colposcopy is to ascertain whether there are any cancerous cells on your cervix. It's a simple and painless procedure - all that happens is they insert a camera inside you and look at the cells on your cervix. If they think there's an abnormality they may take a biopsy for further tests. If cancerous or pre-cancerous cells are found they will treat you, most likely with drugs or laser/ other treatment to physcially remove the affected cells. Even if they find no abnormal cells they will ask you to have repeat smears every 6 months, decreasing to one year, then to three years if there are no futher problems.

It's not recommended you have sex for the few days after your smear but there's no reason why you can't continue being intimate and no reason why you can't try for another baby BUT I would wait until you have your results back first as you may not be able to have treatment if you're pregnant. Chances are you will be fine. If the worst case scenario does happen and you have to have majory surgery to treat cancer your doctor will make you aware of your options.

As with all medical questions, however, whilst the shared experience of others may help to put your mind at rest, only your doctor can give you the right answer for you.

Answer 3

I had this same exact thing happen. First of all, relax and don't worry. The HPV infection can come from any kind skin contact. Just because it showed up on the pap smear is not cause for concern. I had to have a colposcopy after I tested positive for a high risk strain of the virus. I went in and it was really simple...basically like a pap smear but a closer view. I didn't have to have a biopsy because they didn't seemed alarmed. They said that the virus goes away on its own but to have another pap smear in six months. If it does show something they can cryogenically (freeze) the spots off and be done with it. It is important that you stay on top of it though and get regular exams...left untreated it can turn into something bad. Your boyfriend may have had contact with someone that had it before you met or you had contact...its next to impossible to test for it until you've already been infected...again my doctor said most of the time it goes away on its own and its quite common...more than 80 percent of women will be infected at some point and most it will go way without them even knowing they had it. Relax...follow the doctor's treatment and all will be good.

Answer 4

HPV isn't an automatic lead to cancer, it is just a potential marker for it. You should have pap tests every year, and other than that don't worry about it. As you and your significant other have been together for ten years, it's a bit late to be worried about being intimate. No point in his getting checked, HPV doesn't show up in males. Go ahead and have another child if you want to and can afford it, the HPV won't stop you or affect the baby.
a colposcopy is done with local anesthetic and it is a simple matter of getting a tissue sample from your cervix. They then culture the tissue to see if there is abnormal growth. If there is, then the doctor will explain your options at that time, no point in worrying about things that may not happen.

Answer 5

what the doctor failed to tell you is that there are several different types of hpv, i dont know which type does what, but from what ive read there is like type I or II or something like that... one type causes the cervical cancer and another type causes the warts... but they dont do the same thing. Chances are the hpv will just clear up on its own b/c thats what it does until you are reexposed again. And just b/c you dont have warts on the outside doesnt mean they arent present on your cervics, which is the purpose of the copo as well as the typing test.

I was told I had hpv years maybe 5 or 6 years ago and since then it hasnt reappeared and every pap smear ive had has been normal since then. I wouldnt worry too much about it, but definately read up on some things and speak with your doctor and def keep up with your annuals they are very important dont let another 5 years go by. Not just to be tested for std and things but just for the sake of knowing what is going on with your body.

Answer 6

HPV is not detectable in men unless it is the strain that causes warts. Only a few strains cause warts - a few others can cause cancer in females, but that is why you get a pap test each year - you will probably be on a 6 month schedule for pap test because of this abnormal one. Your doctor knows the virus is present and will be checking for precancer changes. This is just standard. No you do not have to give up intimacy and condoms do not prevent the spread. ( It is the same virus that causes warts on the feet - Plantar warts if you want to check that out). Life as normal - just need to be checked for any changes so they can be dealt with before they get to advanced. Good Luck

Answer 7

Umm the coloscopy is just a way of looking at your cervix under a microscope and then they will take a biopsy of it and send it into the lab. The lab will tell you if you have mild, moderate, or severe dysplasia. If you have moderate or severe then you will most likely get surgery. If you get surgery then they will most likely only remove a small part of your cervix then check to make sure the virus isn;t at the top or else they'll take more. The more you get taken or your cervix the less chance of carrying a baby to term, but you most likely won't need a lot taken. You can still have sex because he obviously has hpv as well. Just ask your doctor a million questions. They have to answer all of them, but hpv is still a topic that not every doctor agrees on.

Answer 8

For your bowel movement that is uncomfortable try flaxseed oil and eat lots of veggies. DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!! =) As for HPV there is no cure for the virus but the symptoms and side effects can be managable and it's not a life threatning thing. No worry. HPV is very common and most of the population have it. Most men / women are carriers with no symptoms. Most of the time your immune system learns to surpress it and next thing you know you don't ever see symptoms again. Statistics say that 6months-2 year it can clear but, it's different for every person! =) I don't really go by other peoples experience. I do listen to opinions but everyone is different. EXERCISE, DRINK VITAMINS, EAT RIGHT...and you should be good. Keep up your papsmears...=) LISTEN TO YOU DOC....

Answer 9

Well...I don't think I can give you a specific number. I would do what your doctor suggests, because it will catch anything abnormal, just like you said. I can tell you, though, that not every woman with HPV develops cancer. Try not to worry too terribly much until you've gone through with the colcospy.

Your boyfriend should be fine, too. HPV is passed on through intercourse, but since men don't have the parts that this virus effects, I don't see why he would have any issues. Just try and stay calm and see what happens.

Good luck to you!

Answer 10

HPV-induced cancersAbout a dozen HPV types (including types 16, 18, 31 and 45) are called "high-risk" types because they can lead to cervical cancer, as well as anal cancer, vulvar cancer, head and neck cancers, and penile cancer.[16] HPV-induced cancers often have viral sequences integrated into the cellular DNA. Some of the HPV "early" genes, such as E6 and E7, are known to act as oncogenes that promote tumor growth and malignant transformation.

The p53 protein prevents cell growth in the presence of DNA damage primarily through the BAX domain, which blocks the anti-apoptotic effects of the mitochondrial BCL-2 receptor. In addition, p53 also upregulates the p21 protein, which blocks the formation of the Cyclin D/Cdk4 complex, thereby preventing the phosphorylation of RB and, in turn, halting cell cycle progression by preventing the activation of E2F. In short, p53 is a tumor suppressor gene that arrests the cell cycle when there is DNA damage. The E6 and E7 proteins work by inhibiting tumor suppression genes involved in that pathway: E6 inhibits p53, while E7 inhibits p53, p21, and RB.

Several types of HPV, particularly type 16, have been found to be associated with oropharyngeal squamous-cell carcinoma, a form of throat cancer.


Genome organization of human papillomavirus type 16, one of the subtypes known to cause cervical cancer. (E1-E7 early genes, L1-L2 late genes: capsid)A history of infection with one or more high-risk HPV types is believed to be a prerequisite for the development of cervical cancer (the vast majority of HPV infections are not high risk); according to the American Cancer Society, women with no history of the virus do not develop this type of cancer. However, most HPV infections are cleared rapidly by the immune system and do not progress to cervical cancer. Because the process of transforming normal cervical cells into cancerous ones is slow, cancer occurs in people who have been infected with HPV for a long time, usually over a decade or more.

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