hpv carrier

I had sex with someone who later informed me she needed a LEEP procedure for HPV infection so I’m pretty certain that am a carrier for the high-risk variety of HPV even though I used condoms 100% of the time with her. Why I’m writing is because I’ve really been beating myself up because in subsequent relationships I never bothered to tell the women about this issue. Of course, it’s a very difficult conversation and I was extremely anxious that nobody would desire me sexually. I was hoping that you could help me gain some perspective about being an HPV carrier because I feel like a real jerk and I’m scared that I’m ‘giving cancer’ to other unknowing people.  Also, how long is the typical person a carrier of HPV?

I also have a few other secondary questions about HPV:

1) With perfect condom use, how likely is HPV transmission in a one-time sexual encounter?

2) I’ve read that cervical cancer is pretty rare, but I also read that 1:141 women contract it! How is it that something which is 100% preventable and treatable so common? Doesn’t everyone see the commercials on tv and realize that free pap smears are at certain clinics? I just don’t understand.

3) Is it true that the HPV types that cause GW aren’t the same ones that cause cervical cancer? I read this on the CDC site, on the Gardasil website, and it’s been stated by Dr. Hook in the forums.

4) What is your opinion on the promise of therapeutic vaccines for HPV? When can we expect them to become available clinically?

Thanks.

[mlr3475080]

ok, calm down hun. I contracted HPY when I was 16. Im now 32. Ive had to tell partners and ya, its a very embarassing situation. If you were using condoms, I would think theres a pretty good chance you DONT have it, but then again....you never know.
the reason its so common is because they only came out with a vaccine very recently...people who already have it, have it, thats it. Second- it so common because people dont usually know they have it. it can show absolutely no signs for years..therefore they pass it to others who again, may not show signs for years.
Number 3 is not correct. I had HPV= genital warts and had cryosurgery to remove pre-cancerous cells.
HPV by the way, can eventually go away. Your body can eventually get rid of the virus. Mine did. Ive been HPV free for two years now. But that may not be the case for everyone.
Your not giving people cancer...as long as you use a condom and inform people of the "very slight risk". Its embaraasing but necessary. Its called being a grown up. If someone doesnt want to be with you sexually because of it, be happy they're out of your life!

[mlr3475080]

Sorry HPV not HPY lol

[mlr3475080]

Sorry one more thing...millions of people have HPV, its like the common cold at this point. Its most likely that the person your with has it and doesnt know it. Its not routinely done with a pap. they have to specifically ask for it and there is no blood test for it either.

[simplynat]

I wanted to add that condoms are only 70% effective. Genital HPV can be transmitted even with the use of condoms and feasibly even without intercourse. It is transmitted through skin to skin contact (genital). While there are now vaccines available, Gardasil only vaccinates against 4 strains for genital HPV (there are over 30 strains), of those 4 strains Gardasil vaccinates against, 2 of them are for low risk HPV (potential to cause warts) and two of them are high risk (potential to cause cancer).
There is conflicting research as to whether a person can clear an active HPV infection and is rid of it forever or whether it just goes into a state of dormancy. I personally, strongly believe that it just goes into a state of dormancy from my own personal experience. It is a fact that HPV can stay dormant for years (over 20 even) before becoming active if it ever does. The Digene test (the only FDA approved HPV test) can only detect active strains of HPV, not dormant. So, a person who has received a negative HPV test does not mean they are HPV free, it only means that there currently is not an active HPV infection.