HPV

I have been experiencing vulvar irritation and burning for over 6 months.  I was given multiple cultures and tests and all came back negative.  However, my papsmear came back "slightly abnormal" and I was told I have HPV.  My Dr. has looked for lesions and warts multiple times but cannot find any.  She seems to think the irritation has nothing to do with the HPV.  Is it common to experience vulvar irritation with HPV infection but have no visible warts?  If so, how can it be treated so that I am not so uncomfortable all of the time?

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Thank you jo101 for your excellent and comprehensive comments.

Burning can also be due to an allergic reaction. Sometimes you can get into a vicious cycle of putting on a cream which then causes more irritation. Sometimes the best thing is to stop all topicals and not let any clothing touch the area.
best wishes

[jo101]

it depends which type of hpv you have as to whether you will grow any warts. some types of hpv cause warts some do not. cancer cells can grow in these warts but very rarely. Doctors tend to remove these warts just in case........for others who do not get warts the virus causes dna changes to the skin cells and causes pre-cancer cells (VIN).....IT IS NOT CANCER UNTILL IT SPREADS BELOW THE SKIN AND INTO THE MUSCLES ETC UNDERNEATH...this takes years.....EVEN THEN ITS VERY TREATABLE ESPECIALLY IF IT HAS NOT ENTERED THE LYMPH NODES.
typical symptoms of hpv are vulva irritation, and burning.....especially if you have sex or foreplay, and itching........but theres no abnormal discharge. it can feel similar to thrush.....but without the usual discharge. so if you are free of any other causes of irritation like soap, tight pants, hubbys beard ! sti's etc, then keep getting checked out !

i had these symptoms and used 1% canesten which was soothing but obviously does not treat the condition. i eventually had a small area of thickened normal coloured skin on my right inner labia. it was seen by a few nurses and docs but nobody thought it looked suspicious until it ulcerated......they removed it....vin 3 hpv vulvar intraepithelial neoplasm....carcinoma insitu. all the docs can do is keep cutting out any new bits that occur, not very heartening i know. vin 3 takes a very long time....years to invade below the skin basement membrane, your doc is obviously keeping an eye on you which is great. the best thing you can do is keep  clean, daily baths plain water with a little salt (research shows poor hygiene = greater chance of lesions developing), don't start scrubing though, thats just silly ! stop smoking now ! toxins from tabacco accumulate in vulva skin damaging the cells. step up your vegetable intake and remember the infections viral,it won't go away but your immune system can keep it at bay. also you can have micro-lesions invisible to the eye but an be seen with a colposcope. your partner should also keep a check on his penis, scrotum, fingers and tongue and throat......there is a connection between this virus and oral lesions.  this virus is normal......practically all sexually active adults will have picked up one of the viruses at some point, the shame is only a few will develop the need for treatment. please don't look to blame.....you'l only upset yourself, your partner and be no better off....you can't blame someone else for the way your body responds to a very common virus. i'm sorry for your position though, chin up...ypou are no more likely to get cancer than anyone else.....infact....you will be looking for it....and looking after yourself better than you did before.  best of luck........you'll be ok....its not great news but its definately not that bad.....if you are stressing out, try some acupuncture to relax you and build up your immunity. all the best , jo x

[Hello73]

Thanks to both of you for your advice.  Is there something my doctor can prescribe to fight the HPV infection that could possibly help my symptoms?  I was also diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and have been on Elmiron for about 2 months.  It does not seem to be helping and I've heard vulvar irritation can be caused by that as well.  It seems as though the irritation is worse the week before my period and a few days after.  I am on birth control pills.  Could those be a cause?