So, I had a colposcopy today....?

Question

I asked the doctor some general questions and concerns I had about HPV. I just want some clarification (I didn't think of it when I was in the doctor's office), but I understand there are two different types of HPV- Low risk and high risk. I asked the doctor about the warts because I have never noticed any and she told me that if the HPV causes changes on the cervix then I most likely will never get the warts.... so does that mean I have the high risk HPV that can lead to cervical cancer? I also asked the doctor what the chances of getting cervical cancer are, and she said slim to none. She also said it will most likely go away in about a year. I definitely plan on going to ever appointment and pap to make sure everything is ok, I just wanted some clarification. Thanks.

Answer 1

They are several low risk HPV types and several high risk HPV types. HPV types are divided into two difference categories. High-risk HPV types the types that are seen in cancer and low risk HPV types the HPV types that are rarely seen in cancer.

The genital HPV types can be divided into two broad groups (low-risk and high-risk HPVs) depending upon their association (or lack of association) with cancers of the lower genital tract.
Low-risk HPV types (6, 11, 42,43,44, 54,61,70,72, and 81) are virtually never found in cancers.
High-risk HPV types (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 73, and 82) have been identified in cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, and penis.
The most common types detected in genital warts are HPV 6 and HPV 11.
The most common HPV type detected in both normal women and in women with cervical cancer is HPV 16.
The majority of cervical cancers (80%) are caused by just 4 HPV types (16, 18, 31, and 45).

http://cme.asccp.org/faq/histHPV.cfm


If you do not have low risk HPV types they you will probably never have genital warts but we can acquire more than one HPV type. We also can have low and high risk HPV and never have cervical cell changes or warts.

The FDA approved HPV test only screens for high risk HPV types. The HPV test uses the same sample take of the cervix. No cells samples were taken of the vulva.

The hc2 High-Risk HPV DNA Test™ (DNAwithPap™)* using Hybrid
Capture2 (hc2) technology is an In Vitro nucleic acid hybridization
assay with signal amplification using microplate chemiluminescence for
the qualitative detection of thirteen high-risk types of human
papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in cervical specimens. The HPV types
detected by the assay are the high-risk HPV types
16/18/31/33/35/39/45/51/52/56/58/59/68. The hc2 High-Risk HPV DNA
Test cannot determine the specific HPV type present.

www.digene.com

Most people do build immunity to their HPV types. We can acquire new HPV types with a new sex partner and an old HPV infection can reoccur. There is no cure for the virus but our body can build immunity to our HPV types. The progress of an HPV infection to a cervical squamous cell cancer most often takes years.

There is no "cure" for HPV infection, although in most women the infection goes away on its own. The treatments provided are directed to the changes in the skin or mucous membrane caused by HPV infection, such as warts and pre-cancerous changes in the cervix.

All types of HPV can cause mild Pap test abnormalities which do not have serious consequences. Approximately 10 of the 30 identified genital HPV types can lead, in rare cases, to development of cervical cancer. Research has shown that for most women (90 percent), cervical HPV infection becomes undetectable within two years. Although only a small proportion of women have persistent infection, persistent infection with "high-risk" types of HPV is the main risk factor for cervical cancer.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm#cure

The American Cancer Society predicts that there will be about 11,150 new cases of invasive cervical cancer in the United States in 2007. About 3,670 women will die from this disease that same year. Some researchers think that non-invasive cervical cancer is about 4 times as common as the invasive type. When found and treated early, cervical cancer often can be cured.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1X_How_many_women_get_cancer_of_the_cervix_8.asp?sitearea=

We do play a big part in our health care. Acquire good Knowledge of our health issues, Eating health, getting good sleep, our body heals in stage 4 sleep, exercise using condoms and making/keeping our doctors appointment following their recommended screening and treatments.

I wish you well.

Answer 2

Warts are considered low risk. So, if she thinks you will never develop them, then that means you probably have high risk and could possible develop pre-cancerous cells on the cervix or even cervical cancer. It's estimated about 1% of women with HPV will actually go on to develop cervical caner. This is usually in places that don't have proper screening like pap smears. So, it is pretty rare, but cervical cancer should still be taken very seriously. You should still be getting your yearly pap smears (or more if you have had abnormal pap smears, which it sounds like you did).

I personally have high risk and low risk HPV. I have at least two kinds (that I know of anyway). I developed cervical cancer and genital warts from my HPV. So, it's still possible for a person with high risk HPV to develop genital warts. They would have both high risk and low risk, like I have.

Good luck to you and stay on top of those pap smears! It's the best thing you can do! Take care.

Answer 3

different strains of HPV cause different things. some cause warts and not changes on the cervix...others cause changes on the cervix but not warts. it sounds like you have the kind which causes abnormal cells on the cervix which are then found when you have your pap smear. if they are not that high grade then they will likely just monitor you and you will need to get more frequent pap smears. often your body can fight the virus off and keep it "at bay" so to say so it does not develop into cancer. if you have a higher grade and they are worried about it going towards cancer they will likely use a laser to get rid of the areas that have the abnormal cells. often it does not go to cancer, but if you have the HPV that causes changes in the cervix which it sounds like you do there is a chance that it could. the strains that cause external warts do not cause cervical cancer. since your follow-up is not for a year i'm assuming you must not be that high grade or they would follow you more like every 6 months.

Answer 4

Changes in the cells of your cervix does not mean that you have high risk HPV. If those cells that changed do not go away (persistent), then it is considered high risk. If the infection does not go away, then you are likely to develop cervical cancer. That is why it is important to get check ups regularly. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

seem.s like you are not at a high risk on this matter. my opion?