Aa
HPV
Hello Doctor,
I am a 25 years old female. I found a bump that looked like genital warts a couple days ago, and went to my family doctor today and he told me it looks like a genital wart and referred me to a dermatologist and a gynecologist in a next week or so. My questions are:
1) I know, 85% of all American population have contacted this problem, and approximately 50% shows wart symptoms and only 1% have visible warts on a yearly basis (plus the infection clearing up within 2 years theory), so does that mean, although the older research shown that this is for life, It actually isn't a life time battle?
2) If most of the issues clear (cured) within 2 years, but almost all cervical cancer are a result of hpv, and most of the cervical cancer patients are elderly, does that mean, these people have had hpv for a longer period than 2 years? if so, how come? If not, then are they newly infections? Does 25 years old woman like myself, have a healthy enough immune system to fight the infection ( I don't have any problems and maybe get a cold once a year).
3) The 3 to 6 months period, is it post my treatment, or post disappearing of warts? After that period,I should consider myself cured and I can have unprotected sex right? Do you suggest I get another pap smear in 3 or 6 months and see my dermatologist just to be sure?
4)I have a boyfriend that has been overseas since October and will be back in January.I am concerned about our sex life, and I cannot tell him openly about this issue because we are not that close. So if I can get rid of the problem sometimes this month, and if I hold off sex for maybe a months or so, do you suggest I can potentially have sex in march or april? And if I by chance transmit to him, what is the worse that can happen to him?
5)Lastly, can you have warts and have normal pap smear? If so, how do you explain that?
Thank you SO MUCH!
I am a 25 years old female. I found a bump that looked like genital warts a couple days ago, and went to my family doctor today and he told me it looks like a genital wart and referred me to a dermatologist and a gynecologist in a next week or so. My questions are:
1) I know, 85% of all American population have contacted this problem, and approximately 50% shows wart symptoms and only 1% have visible warts on a yearly basis (plus the infection clearing up within 2 years theory), so does that mean, although the older research shown that this is for life, It actually isn't a life time battle?
2) If most of the issues clear (cured) within 2 years, but almost all cervical cancer are a result of hpv, and most of the cervical cancer patients are elderly, does that mean, these people have had hpv for a longer period than 2 years? if so, how come? If not, then are they newly infections? Does 25 years old woman like myself, have a healthy enough immune system to fight the infection ( I don't have any problems and maybe get a cold once a year).
3) The 3 to 6 months period, is it post my treatment, or post disappearing of warts? After that period,I should consider myself cured and I can have unprotected sex right? Do you suggest I get another pap smear in 3 or 6 months and see my dermatologist just to be sure?
4)I have a boyfriend that has been overseas since October and will be back in January.I am concerned about our sex life, and I cannot tell him openly about this issue because we are not that close. So if I can get rid of the problem sometimes this month, and if I hold off sex for maybe a months or so, do you suggest I can potentially have sex in march or april? And if I by chance transmit to him, what is the worse that can happen to him?
5)Lastly, can you have warts and have normal pap smear? If so, how do you explain that?
Thank you SO MUCH!
A related discussion, Almost a year.. was started.
Thank you for the clarification. Final 3 questions:
1) When you said "It is unlikely that you will clear the surface passenger virus totally whilst you continue sexual activity as your sexual partners are likely to have their own passenger HPV virus which they may pass to you"
What you are saying is, as long as I continue to have a sex life , i will get will be further contaminated (because most people have it), do you mean by a completely new strain of hpv? So, would you say it is like unavoidable anyway, so just get annual check up and make sure things are okay?
2) I am most worried about my actual genital warts, so once lets say i clear them by 6 - 9 months, and if i do get contaminated again, it doesn't mean i will get warts again right?
3)Lastly, does it mean, while I am still positive, i should not have sex, and wait until I am clear, or else, my hpv will not clear?
Thank you again, no more questions and you been extremely helpful!!!!
1) When you said "It is unlikely that you will clear the surface passenger virus totally whilst you continue sexual activity as your sexual partners are likely to have their own passenger HPV virus which they may pass to you"
What you are saying is, as long as I continue to have a sex life , i will get will be further contaminated (because most people have it), do you mean by a completely new strain of hpv? So, would you say it is like unavoidable anyway, so just get annual check up and make sure things are okay?
2) I am most worried about my actual genital warts, so once lets say i clear them by 6 - 9 months, and if i do get contaminated again, it doesn't mean i will get warts again right?
3)Lastly, does it mean, while I am still positive, i should not have sex, and wait until I am clear, or else, my hpv will not clear?
Thank you again, no more questions and you been extremely helpful!!!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello Mimi,
I'm going to take each of your questions in turn ok?
I am a 25 years old female. I found a bump that looked like genital warts a couple days ago, and went to my family doctor today and he told me it looks like a genital wart and referred me to a dermatologist and a gynecologist in a next week or so. My questions are:
1) I know, 85% of all American population have contacted this problem, and approximately 50% shows wart symptoms and only 1% have visible warts on a yearly basis (plus the infection clearing up within 2 years theory), so does that mean, although the older research shown that this is for life, It actually isn't a life time battle?
You're correct to say that very many people have wart virus - HPV on their genital skin. But, usually this is of little importance and you can think of it just as "passenger" virus - it sits on your skin and usually does not cause a problem and eventually you will clear it. It is unlikely that you will clear the surface passenger virus totally whilst you continue sexual activity as your sexual partners are likely to have their own passenger HPV virus which they may pass to you. I would not be keen to describe it as a "life long battle".
2) If most of the issues clear (cured) within 2 years, but almost all cervical cancer are a result of hpv, and most of the cervical cancer patients are elderly, does that mean, these people have had hpv for a longer period than 2 years? if so, how come? If not, then are they newly infections? Does 25 years old woman like myself, have a healthy enough immune system to fight the infection ( I don't have any problems and maybe get a cold once a year).
As I say above, HPV is a very common condition and usually the surface "passenger virus" will clear on its own if you do not have sexual activity. The time frame for spontaneous clearance varies but the average is 9 months or so. It may be shorter or longer - BUT and I keep on coming back to this - if you have sexual activity you are likely to re-acquire a further contamination.
Not all HPV subtypes are harmful. There are many harmelss versions but some may cause cancers. These are the most important ones. The HPV cancer forming viruses do not always lead to a cancer. You may have contamination with these subtypes but they will certainly not always lead to a cancer.
I have very direct experience of very young women developing very aggressive cervical and other genital cancers so I would be cautious about describing it as a disesae of older women.
PAP smearing shoukld be done for all women at regular intervals - minimum three yearly but probably annually or every two years is better. PAP smearing will almost always identify HPV related cervical cancers and will allow you to do something about it.
In addition you can boost your own protection by having the gardasil or cervarix vaccines against HPV 16 and 18 especially. Having a vaccine does not mean that you can stop PAP smears as the vaccine will reduce the chances of developing HPV realted cancers by around 70% - but that still leaves a further 30%.
3) The 3 to 6 months period, is it post my treatment, or post disappearing of warts? After that period,I should consider myself cured and I can have unprotected sex right? Do you suggest I get another pap smear in 3 or 6 months and see my dermatologist just to be sure?
No - see my answers to 1 and 2 above. Sexual activity will almost certainly result in recontamination. You need to take advice from your doctor regarding the frequency of PAP smears.
4)I have a boyfriend that has been overseas since October and will be back in January.I am concerned about our sex life, and I cannot tell him openly about this issue because we are not that close. So if I can get rid of the problem sometimes this month, and if I hold off sex for maybe a months or so, do you suggest I can potentially have sex in march or april? And if I by chance transmit to him, what is the worse that can happen to him?
As you note in your question, a huge proportion of the sexually active population has contamination with HPV virus. It is almost impossible to avoid and condoms offer poor protection against HPV. It is overwhelmingly likely that your boyfriend has HPV on his genital skin already.
There is an excellent patient guide on HPV in women here:-
http://www.asccp.org/pdfs/patient_edu/human_papillomavirus_20090416.pdf
5)Lastly, can you have warts and have normal pap smear? If so, how do you explain that?
Yes, - you can. See my answers above and also the patient leaflet I have given the link to.
Thank you SO MUCH!
No problem and best wishes, Sean
I'm going to take each of your questions in turn ok?
I am a 25 years old female. I found a bump that looked like genital warts a couple days ago, and went to my family doctor today and he told me it looks like a genital wart and referred me to a dermatologist and a gynecologist in a next week or so. My questions are:
1) I know, 85% of all American population have contacted this problem, and approximately 50% shows wart symptoms and only 1% have visible warts on a yearly basis (plus the infection clearing up within 2 years theory), so does that mean, although the older research shown that this is for life, It actually isn't a life time battle?
You're correct to say that very many people have wart virus - HPV on their genital skin. But, usually this is of little importance and you can think of it just as "passenger" virus - it sits on your skin and usually does not cause a problem and eventually you will clear it. It is unlikely that you will clear the surface passenger virus totally whilst you continue sexual activity as your sexual partners are likely to have their own passenger HPV virus which they may pass to you. I would not be keen to describe it as a "life long battle".
2) If most of the issues clear (cured) within 2 years, but almost all cervical cancer are a result of hpv, and most of the cervical cancer patients are elderly, does that mean, these people have had hpv for a longer period than 2 years? if so, how come? If not, then are they newly infections? Does 25 years old woman like myself, have a healthy enough immune system to fight the infection ( I don't have any problems and maybe get a cold once a year).
As I say above, HPV is a very common condition and usually the surface "passenger virus" will clear on its own if you do not have sexual activity. The time frame for spontaneous clearance varies but the average is 9 months or so. It may be shorter or longer - BUT and I keep on coming back to this - if you have sexual activity you are likely to re-acquire a further contamination.
Not all HPV subtypes are harmful. There are many harmelss versions but some may cause cancers. These are the most important ones. The HPV cancer forming viruses do not always lead to a cancer. You may have contamination with these subtypes but they will certainly not always lead to a cancer.
I have very direct experience of very young women developing very aggressive cervical and other genital cancers so I would be cautious about describing it as a disesae of older women.
PAP smearing shoukld be done for all women at regular intervals - minimum three yearly but probably annually or every two years is better. PAP smearing will almost always identify HPV related cervical cancers and will allow you to do something about it.
In addition you can boost your own protection by having the gardasil or cervarix vaccines against HPV 16 and 18 especially. Having a vaccine does not mean that you can stop PAP smears as the vaccine will reduce the chances of developing HPV realted cancers by around 70% - but that still leaves a further 30%.
3) The 3 to 6 months period, is it post my treatment, or post disappearing of warts? After that period,I should consider myself cured and I can have unprotected sex right? Do you suggest I get another pap smear in 3 or 6 months and see my dermatologist just to be sure?
No - see my answers to 1 and 2 above. Sexual activity will almost certainly result in recontamination. You need to take advice from your doctor regarding the frequency of PAP smears.
4)I have a boyfriend that has been overseas since October and will be back in January.I am concerned about our sex life, and I cannot tell him openly about this issue because we are not that close. So if I can get rid of the problem sometimes this month, and if I hold off sex for maybe a months or so, do you suggest I can potentially have sex in march or april? And if I by chance transmit to him, what is the worse that can happen to him?
As you note in your question, a huge proportion of the sexually active population has contamination with HPV virus. It is almost impossible to avoid and condoms offer poor protection against HPV. It is overwhelmingly likely that your boyfriend has HPV on his genital skin already.
There is an excellent patient guide on HPV in women here:-
http://www.asccp.org/pdfs/patient_edu/human_papillomavirus_20090416.pdf
5)Lastly, can you have warts and have normal pap smear? If so, how do you explain that?
Yes, - you can. See my answers above and also the patient leaflet I have given the link to.
Thank you SO MUCH!
No problem and best wishes, Sean
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