Question about HPV????

Question

I had a baby 8 months ago and just went in for my first pap since then...just got the call today and it came back ABNORMAL. they said not to worry-and i'm really not...but i'm just wondering. I have been with my husband for 2 years and we thought he might have warts-we have never used protection and he is NOT unfaithful to me..so why would this not show up on my pap when i first got pregnant? could it have just not detected it for some reason? all they said was dont worry and come back in 3 months to see if its normal again..but what if its not detected again like before?? ugh!!! what a pain...

Answer 1

Your Pap looks for abnormal cells...sometime it does miss these changes. For the gal under 30 a doctor may not order the HPV test when the Pap does not show any cell changes. Your Pap may have missed these changes or the cell changes had not occurred...we can have HPV with no cell changes. It does take some time for cell changes to occur. You may want to ask your doctor if you Pap stated ASCUS or LSIL…learning more about these finding will give you a bit more information for your repap

Great information on understanding cell changes is at the National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcervicalchanges

Your body when through lots during your pregnancy...you immune system is may have been a bit lower and the virus showed these changes.

A three month recheck is a good thing...see if your body is again producing antibodies and fighting the virus...or that your doctor needs to treat the manifestation that the virus creates.

Visible warts are often low risk HPV types. Our FDA approved HPV test does not screen for low risk HPV types. Low risk HPV types do generally regress faster than high risk HPV types. 20 to 50% of people with low risk HPV types also carry high risk HPV types. Some studies also have shown that when a partner had cervical intraepithelial lesion there sex partner had small flat warts. It is a good idea to have your husband checked by a good dermatologist to see if his warts have cleared. You and he will not ping pong your virus back and forth, but it is better if they are any warts that the are taken care of. If the doctor does not find warts then here is no other test for the male that looks for abnormal cell changes of high risk HPV type. We can be carriers with no cell changes or warts. www.thehpvtest.com

I hope that in 3 months all is back to normal. I wish you well.

Answer 2

It can take a while for HPV to show any signs or symptoms of the virus, even if your body physically has the virus. It can basically become dormant for a while and then suddenly show symptoms. A LOT of people have the virus and are just unaware of it because they never show any signs or symptoms or it can take several months and even years to show any signs!

I was diagnosed with HPV 6+ years ago by an abnormal pap smear which eventually did turn into cervical cancer. Then, 5 years later I developed genital warts from it. If it wasn't for my abnormal pap smear I might have went those 5 years without even realizing I had the virus!

Like your doctor said, don't worry about it too much. With proper screenings (like pap smears) you should be just fine! Good luck and take care!

Answer 3

The average incubation period, which begins immediately after the initial sexual contact with an infected person, is three to six months. However, when HPV is transmitted from one person to another, the virus infects the top layers of the skin and can remain inactive or latent for months or possibly years before any warts or other signs of HPV infection appear. Even in couples that have been mutually monogamous for many years, the woman may develop an abnormal Pap smear or dysplasia (abnormal cells) as a result of previous contact.
As far as your doctor saying to come back in 3 months, you might want to get another opinion- if your levels were low, then it's not an issue, yet. But left untreated, it can cause precancerous cells to grow. I'd have another pap just to be sure. Even just for the peace of mind. Good luck.

Answer 4

HPV is one of the most common STD's out there. Most people who become infected with HPV will not have any symptoms and will clear the infection on their own.

Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. Keep in mind that most people who have a genital HPV infection do not know they are infected. This is one STD that you can not go back and say I got it from "Mr. X". You could of got it from the first person you slept with or even the 100th person you slept with.

Generally when a pap comes back abnormal due to HPV the cell are said to be Atypical and there are two types.

ASC—Atypical Squamous Cells. Squamous cells are the thin, flat cells that form the surface of the cervix. The Bethesda System divides this category into two groups:


ASC–US—Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance. The squamous cells do not appear completely normal, but doctors are uncertain what the cell changes mean. Sometimes the changes are related to HPV infection. An HPV test may be done to clarify the findings.


ASC–H—Atypical Squamous Cells cannot exclude a High-grade squamous intraepithelial abnormality. Intraepithelial refers to the layer of cells that forms the surface of the cervix. The cells do not appear normal, but doctors are uncertain what the cell changes mean. ASC–H may indicate a higher risk of being precancerous compared with ASC–US.

most liekly your doctor will have you come in every 4 months for a repeat pap. This is done to keep an eye on the cells to make sure that if it does develop into to cancer it is caught and treated early on.

On a persoanl note, I too have HPV and have been going for 2+ years now and it have not developed into cancer. If it does I know that I am being pro active about my health.

Answer 5

Yes it is very possible u do have HPV. It could take months even years for someone to get this virus frm someone who is infected. So doesnt necessarily mean ur husband cheated on u but then again u never know becuz again it could be months or yrs that u notice any symptoms..ex; genital warts...abnormal paps. I know wut ur going thru..I recently was told or should i say given a pamphlet that said i had HPV. Havent recd. my pap results...still waiting. So best advice would be to hav ur paps regularly and maybe even get a 2nd opinion. By the way congrats on ur new baby!

Answer 6

One or both of you may have had HPV before you got married and you did not contract it until after you delivered. Also, abnormal pap smears can be caused by other things like infections which are not STD's. Your husband needs to see a urologist to find out if he has genital warts to set your mind at ease. Best of luck!