Daughter Pregnant

My daughter is 19 yr old.  She is pregnant with her first baby.  She is 18 weeks,  She was just told she has human papaloma virus. The nurse told her she has the highest kind of this virus.  I know that means she has the possibility of getting cervical cancer. I don't know if I'm looking in the wrong places, but I haven't been able to find info on this disease.  Could you please tell me where me I can look.

Thank You,
Beverly

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
One of the best sources of information I have found is at http://www.gardasil.com
In fact, if you google HPV vaccine, you will get a lot of good sites such as the CDC site and the National Cancer Institute, etc.
It is VERY common for young women to have HPV.  MOST of them will clear the disease on their own without treatment.  VERY FEW will ultimately end up with cervical cancer.  IF your daughter is compliant with her doctor's recommendations, she won't ever have cervical cancer--the women who get that are the ones who don't go in for pap smears.  Also, if she smokes, here is one MORE good reason for her to quit--cigarette smoking increases the risk of HPV progressing.
She should undergo a colposcopy and possibly some biopsies, but they will very likely defer treatment until after the baby is born.  She almost certainly won't get cancer between now and then.
Good luck!
Dr B