questions about HPV

[kurai]

Hi, I'm just have a few questions. I've been finding a huge mix of answers on and I don't feel my gyn has really answered..

okay so the background.
Two days ago I went to a gyn because I was worried about a cluster of bumps above my anus.  The gyn located two other clusers of bumps inside one the vaginal walls as well as some isolated ones. He diagnosed it as HPV or as we all know, genital warts. .. Now I've been with the same guy since December. I had a clear papsmear in february but we also stopped having protected sex right after that.  I've only been with two guys total and the guy I'm with has had no symptoms. so it's not clear if I got it first or if he's been a carrier.

okay so questions:

1) he's going to get tested next week, if it comes up negative is he safe? Or because we've been very active since December is for sure that he has it if I do??....  Is it possible for a guy to have HPV and still test negative?

2)  Also, I just learned about an HPV test. I know the negative pap smear means I don't have anything on the cervix not necessarily that I don't have HPV. however, in regards to this HPV test -is it possible to for me to have HPV and test negative on an HPV test?  I haven't had this test but is worth me checking out? like is it possible the clusters of bumps could be something else?? they really do seem like warts, just I'm curious about the accuracy of the tests... I just need to know lol

3) I keep reading HPV can go away after a few years depending on the immune system. Now I asked my gyn about this and if there was a way for me to know when or if it goes away? he said there wasn't a way to know "for sure". That even the testing isn't always accurate so I should just assume I "always" have it and can potientally spread it.... Is that true? is there no way of knowing for sure if it's gone or not? do I really just have to assume it's there... forever...

Thank you, I really appreciate any answers and help with this... it's been very hard to accept even though I know it's common. I'm only 21 and right now, I feel so alone. I haven't found any clear answers to the questions above and I'm just desperate to know.

[alexdelong]

HPV is confusing, and it is clear you have done your homework.

1) Your boyfriend won't be "tested' for HPV. The doctor will do a visual inspection to see if he sees warts. If he doesn't have warts, or the warts are missed in the inspection, treatment will not be recommended. Visable warts should be treated. The absence of warts does not mean the absence of infection. Not everybody will develop warts, and those who do may have small infections or clear them quickly.

2)If a lesion is unclear, it is usually biopsied. I don't know much about the HPV test for women, but I think it is also focused on the cervix.
Most of the time suspicious bumps are treated instead of biopsied.

3) Your gyn is taking a very conservative approach. Most doctors now believe that the virus is cleared or suppressed within months. A common guidline is that if you have not shown symptoms for 6 months, the risk of transmitting the virus is very low.
Your gyn is right in saying you cannot know for sure if or when the virus is cleared, but it seems as though we can make a pretty good guess.

[kurai]

Hi, thank you alexdelong =] that does help a lot... I'm just still curious about the thing on it clearing up.  I mean the guy I'm with has had no symptoms ever, so 6 months vs never it seems like he should be a low chance? Now the first guy I was with (way in november), I haven't asked but I know him well enough to know he didn't/doesn't have hint of anything -he for sure would of told me...  So I guess what I'm saying, is both guys didn't show any symptoms but still one of them passed it to me. Thus, it seems like 6 months of no symptoms isn't a reliable guidline...??? thoughts?? I mean if it can go dormant for years then suddenly appear how is 6 months even relevant? of course I recognize low chance doesn't mean no chance, but still... I can't help but be curious, plus, it's like I have this need to know every detail lol.

[kurai]

one more question! is it possible to get HPV from a wart on your hand. My gyn said it's possible but extremely low/rare. Online I've read it's entirely a different type of warts. I have the common hpv of either 6 or 11, can that come from the basic hand wart?

[alexdelong]

A wart on your hand won't cause a genital warts and genital warts won't cause hand warts. The virus can lay dormant, but once it activates, the immune system responds and clears it, does that make sense?

[kurai]

yes, that makes sense =] ... has there been any studies to on what causes a dormant virus to activate? or any speculations on it???

and thank you again alexdelong, you've been extremely helpful =]  I'm really glad I came across this site and I'm definately going to be reading through current and past posts. knowledge is power right? lol

[kurai]

nevermind on the previous question.. I've been reading through some of the other posts. My understanding that it can activate when your immune system is weakend. Such as being getting sick or just being stressed...

He's been under alot of stress this year and so have I... so it makes sense. =]

I didn't realize how common this is until now... I just wish there wasn't such a stigma against it.

[alexdelong]

Quote:

"I didn't realize how common this is until now... I just wish there wasn't such a stigma against it."



Don't we all!
The worst thing about genital warts is its affect on your social life. Fortunately there are a lot of open-minded people who are educated, or willing to be educated on the subject.