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
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.
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. :)
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..