PAP smear and HPV?

Question

Hello everyone...

I've been married for 2 years, but I'm afraid that either of us catched the HPV from previous partners. I've had 2 pap smears... on april 2004 and january 2007, and they came back normal and clean, does that mean that we have nothing to worry about?

If we had HPV, should it had been detected in the 2 pap smears I mentioned?

Knowing that we're healthy people, how long can HPV be in our system?

That's got me really anxious...
Thank you all.

Answer 1

The Pap smear does NOT directly test for HPV, so if you don't have any cervical abnormalities or any warts or lesions, you won't know if you have HPV if you just get a Pap smear. Think of it this way: where there's smoke, there's fire. When a Pap smear finds a cervical abnormality, it infers HPV because that's how most abnormalities happen.

Many people who contract HPV simply clear the infeciton on their own (immune systems are really awesome works of nature).

But for those who eventually manifest HPV infection, it can take up to 3 YEARS before any signs show up.

btw, you need to get Pap smears annually unless you are over the age of 30 and have not had previously abnormal Paps. You don't stage your age, so I'm just saying...

Answer 2

The more virulent strains of HPV (the ones that actually result in either genital warts or cervical cancer), 6, 11, 16 and 18, are the only ones that really have any effect on women/men - and that's either by the appearance of genital warts, or by the development of cellular changes on the woman's cervix - which CAN lead to cervical cancer, but doesn't necessarily.. it's one of those things which gone unchecked is highly likely.
Often - the ONLY way to tell if a woman has the cervical cancer causing strains of HPV is by an abnormal pap smear - meaning, a pap smear that shows abnormal cellular changes on the cervix based on the sample they took.
HOWEVER - you can have an abnormal pap smear WITHOUT having HPV. I had one my first ever pap smear at 18 - before I had ever even HAD sex - all subsequent paps have been 100% normal.
If you're sexually active, however, and you have an abnormal pap, they will follow with a series of biopsies on the area to determine the severity in the cell changes that are occuring (i.e., my friend had CINS3 cell changes which is basically right before the lesions become cancerous).
If you have not had a single abnormal pap between 2004 and present, and you've not been sexually active with anyone else over the past two years except your husband, you REALLY needn't worry.
:)

Answer 3

The truth is if you have HPV you have it whether you have symptoms or not .. its a virus .. many people have it and wont have any abnormalities they will just be carriers .. they are also many different types of HPV and its worth looking up . some people develop warts . some dont .. others can get cervical cancer and that is what the smear detects for .. your best asking your doctor if you can have some type of HPV test if this is worrying you .If your partner has had warts your more than likely to be a carrier . unless you develop warts or have an abnormal smear then just live your life .. and keep being tested .. there are more people with HPV in the world than one knows .. Trust me I know ! about 10 years ago I was given the all clear when my partner had warts but lol .. like I said its a virus and well unless you have no symptoms there is nothing to treat . we dont know who gave who .. and back then there were no HPV tests .. I found out just before I got pregnant with my 2nd child that I had abnormal cells when she was born I had a little op and I have been fine since .. I know I'm a carrier and have never had warts .. so Its all about the person really .;; and sods Law just keep having your tests and enjoy life x xx x xx

Answer 4

Gumdrop Girl took the words right out of my mouth. Also, try getting another pap smear soon, I don't have HPV or anything but I actually just got the new HPV Vaccine over two weeks ago, painful but worth it!

Answer 5

Pap tests do not test for HPV, they test for the changes on the cervix that can be caused by HPV and cause cancer if not treated.
Most people with HPV will never know about it because their body's immune system clears it automatically.
If you really want to know whether you have HPV for sure, there are tests that can tell you, but I don't think you should be worrying about it so much. 80% of people will have the HPV in their lifetime and most will never have symptoms or complications.
Just be sure to continue to have your annual pap test and stay healthy!

Answer 6

The only way to check for HPV is through a pap, they do check for it ALWAYS , if it comes back negative, and your partner has no gential warts, you are probably fine. Keep getting regular paps, and try not to worry about it so much!