HPV

In the middle of October I went to the Gynocologist
for an appointment just for a checkup. I thought I had a scar on my vulva, but it turns out it was an elevated line of a greyish wart. I've have 17 male partners and 4 women partners  since I became sexually active at age 14, and wasn't fully aware of HPV and the chances. They told me the following week that I had an abnormal pap smear along with precancerous cells in my cervix that I had to come back for a Coloscopy. Now I hear a lot that most women don't know they have HPV because they don't get warts. Now, am I lucky that I have warts to detect it on time..? If this is HPV, what type (16, 18.etc..)
is it? It sounds like to me that I will not be able to have a child without it being defected..My main concern is how do I find out who I got it from. I noticed this wart back in September. well thanks for your help!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Happy to help, but I can't really answer all your questions satisfactorily in the space and time available.  You clearly have lots of misunderstanding about genital warts and HPV infection.  Please read the HPV articles under Quick Facts and Articles at the top of this forum.

I have said it repeatedly in this forum but it cannot be stressed enough, because nobody seems to get it:  CATCHING HPV IS NORMAL; at least 80% of us catch it within our first 3-4 lifetime sex partners, and most of us probably catch HPV several times.  At any point in time, at least 20% of sexually active men and women in their 20s or 30s are infected.  You have been infected at least twice, because different kinds of HPV cause warts and the cellular changes that can lead to cancer.  There is no way to easily test to see whether you had HPV 16, 18, 6, 11, or other types, and no need to do so.

You can have 20 kids, if you want, without any of them getting infected.  Transmission of HPV to babies is extremely rare.

You will never know who you caught it from, and there is no reason to know; it wouldn't change your health care or his (or hers).  Similarly, you'll never know which of your partners you infected--but you probably did pass your infection(s) to other persons.

Do some reading and then check back if you have more questions.  I don't mean to sound like I'm lecturing you--your lack of clear knowledge about HPV is no worse than most peoples'.

Good luck--   HHH, MD

[monkeyflower]

Wow, you are just a breath of fresh air. How nice to hear such a rational, levelheaded view of HPV and STDs in general. It's great to have this forum and to have you here, sharing your expertise and excellent advice with us. Thanks :-)

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for the thanks!  You're welcome.

HHH, MD