Is there a test for HPV?

Question

I went to the gynecologist for an exam to go on the pill. My pap smear came back abnormal. When I looked up common causes of an abnormal result, one was HPV virus. I have always been very careful about safe sex but also saw that HPV can be transmitted even when using a condom. I have not been on the pill long enough to use it as a reliable method of birth control so my boyfriend and I have continued to have protected sex. (We are in a long-term, committed relationship. I'm 28, he's 27.) I would be devastated if I passed along an STD to him, unaware that I had it myself. Is there an easy, specific test for HPV? Thank you very much.

I am not the one thumbing down answers. Thank you for all responses.

Answer 1

There is a test. A simple test can determine if you have high-risk HPV and need to be examined more carefully. The Pap smear may not find abnormal cells until cancer has developed. That's why experts now recommend that women 30 and over (when risk of cervical cancer is highest) get the HPV test along with their Pap. In most cases, HPV infections are not "active" long enough to cause problems. However, if an infection with a "high-risk" type of HPV persists, abnormal cells may develop - and turn into cervical cancer if not detected and treated early. Ask your doctor for the test.

Answer 2

There is an HPV test that uses advanced, molecular technology to determine whether you have one or more types of the virus that causes cervical cancer. It works by detecting the genetic, or DNA ‘footprint’ of the virus. The test is done using a sample of your cervical cells collected during a pelvic exam in the same way a Pap is done. In fact, the HPV test can be done on the same sample collected for the Pap.

The Digene/QIAGENE HPV test is sole HPV screening test approved by the FDA. It is approved for routine use along with a Pap for women 30 years and older, which is the group considered to be most at risk for cervical cancer. However, because your Pap came back abnormal, you should ask to make sure your doctor orders an HPV test. You can find more information here: http://www.thehpvtest.com/under-30/getting-the-HPV-test-how-to-get-the-HPV-test.html

Hope this helps. Good luck!

-Tracey from theHPVtest.com

Answer 3

This is a placeholder answer so I don't lose the question. I'm going to check my microbiology notes and get back to you later in the evening if you don't have a great answer by then.

Edited to add:

Ok, yep, good answers, but since I have to study this for an exam next week anyway, let me add some details.

HPV comes in many types. A couple, types 6 and 11, tend to cause harmless warts. Types 16 and 18 are the ones that cause cervical cancers in women. There are other wart viruses that are not sexually transmitted and/or are rare.

Apparently it is possible to diagnose definitively whether you have HPV and if so which kind it is by taking a swab of those weird looking cells and sending it off to the lab to have the DNA analyzed, looking for particular pieces of viral DNA. It is also possible to test for HPV antibodies in a person's blood, but this is not typically done for diagnostic purposes. It is mainly only done for research.

There is currently a vaccine available to types 16 and 18. It is intended to be given to girls before they become sexually active so that they will never be infected with either of these types of HPV. However I know I have read somewhere (I do not remember where) that it might be given in other circumstances. (Eg. *maybe* to your boyfriend if you turn out to have type 16 or 18. ) It's only 80% effective, though.

Edited to add: Also, I wanted to point out that HPV infections are very, very common. According to this article, half of all sexually active adults have had a genital HPV infection of some kind at some point. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=88547

Answer 4

Most of the time HPV goes away on it's own. A man can carry HPV and can keep reinfecting the woman as well . The shot is not a cure for someone who already has it, It's to preventing the outbreak. That why they are giving it to 13 years old to keep it from happening, Hpv is the number one cause of cancer in women.

Answer 5

Hi there,

There is no specific test for HPV- the best thing you can do is regularly have pap smear exams (ie. once a year), since pap exams are how HPV is detected. Here is some information on a HPV vaccine: http://www.gardasil.com/

Answer 6

Hi there,

I would not go jumping to conclusions already. HPV is common with young women, but you can't be sure that you have it. However, if you are concerned about this , there is a HPV vaccine that is availble. Ask your family doctor or gyn doctor.

Answer 7

Yes , your obgyn can do that for you but know that most insurances don't cover it. Good luck

Answer 8

yea. didnt u c the commercials? theres a vaccine for three of them