Abnormal cells and risks

[JohnnyP87]

The girl i am dating had abnormal cells show up on her pap smear over the summer.  we have not had sex yet, nor have i performed oral sex on her, but i have received oral from her.  I have a few questions about what risks I am taking by being with her.

1.  If she has pre-cancerous cells and I have protected sex with her, is there a chance i can get some kind of hpv cancer such as penile cancer?

2..  Does she have to have an active type of hpv cancer (not pre cancerous cells) for me to get cancer?

3.  If i perfrom oral sex and she has pre-cancerous cells can i get the type of hpv cancer that forms in the mouth/throat or does the cancer need to be active?

I have a healthy immune system if that means anything and we do not yet know how serious her condition is but are taking precautions.

Thanks for any input.

[roses711]

1. Condoms don't protect fully against transmission..but do decrease the risk. The risk of the virus progressing into any type cancer is extremely small/rare for men w/ healthy immune sysytems. By the way..you don't know if you've already had the virus. Penile cancer is extremely rare affecting 1,530 men  last year. more than half of the men sexually active have already been infected.

2.You don't "get" cancer..just the HPV virua  which you may already have had (the virus is as common as the common cold..most pple have/get it and NEVER know because their body fights/suppresses it naturally between 6 months to two yrs)

3. your confusing the HPV virus w/ having cancer..apples and oranges. You can have the virus and NEVER have precancerous/cell changes (which happens in 90%of cases). An active HPV virus just means that the virus isn't being suppressed by the body and is currently not dormant and can be transmitted. Havong HPV DOESN'T mean that you have or will ever get cancer!!

4. If she currently has an active HPV status (tested positive) then you should abstain from giving her oral. There is a chance that you may get the virus orally if you perform oral on her. Her possibly having precancerous cells has NOTHING to do w/ performing oral..having an active virus does. The chance of you developing mouth/throat cancer is rare. Men rarely have symptoms.

That being said..if you choose to stay ( since hov doesn't prevent you two from having a normal relationship)..please research about HPV and educate yourselves.

hope this helps..

[Curioustoknow44]

That's great info roses.. I appreciated reading it, though it wasn't my question. :)  You say you can have the virus and never have precancerous cells/cell changes (which happens in 90% of cases).  Are you saying 90% of the time people don't ever receive an abnormal pap and become aware of the virus, or that 90% of the time, the abnormal pap doesn't amount to anything?  

HPV is certainly an extremely confusing virus!  

Thanks again. :)

[JohnnyP87]

what is the difference between having an active virus and having precancerous cells?  I thought the strain of the virus caused the cell abnormalities which lead to the cancer.  And how would we know if she has an active virus?

Thanks for you response...youre doing a great thing here.

[roses711]

toCurious:   The 90% just refers to the amount of time that pple who have HPV and their bodies naturally fight it (w/o medical procedures) into dormancy..making it undetectable/unabe to be transmitted w/o having any symptoms/health problems (abnormal cell changes,warts). that being said.. a large number of women who do receive an abnormal pap can have a "clearing" of the damaged cells naturally w/o any medical procedures and once again get normal paps...hope that clears it up some..don't have exact numbers on those paps

to johnny: Having an active virus= HPV test comes back positive just means that the virus is in your system and currently @ a level able to be detected and not CURRENTLY being suppressed by your immune system. It DOESN't mean that you have OR will get cancer. The high risk strain just means that your already small chance of getting specific cancer increased..although there are still alot other factors that can/will  increase your risk besides having the virus (your immune sytem's strength, smokin,drinking, exercise,diet). Precancerous cells(damaged cells that aren't removed by the body which end up affecting the surrounding cells).. having precancerous cells means that there are noticable change that left untreated will develop into cancer.

Women ONLY know if they have high risk HPV if their gyn tests for it during their yearly gyn exam. It's a separate test done the same time as the PAP.Most docs only do the HPV test on women over 30 or 35 (depending on the doc)..the usual protocol  for women under 30 is that they only test them IF they have an abnormal PAP.

I have high risk strain BUT a normal PAP (cervix cells have no changes and are ok)...found out in sept of this year..

hope I answered your questions or at least cleard up some confusion