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High Risk HPV
I was recently told I tested positive for high risk HPV in January. Retested last week and tested positive again. No one told me that I tested positive in November of 2005, either. The doctor didn't test for HPV prior to 2005 so I don't know what my history there was. I was and have been negative for intrapetithelial lesion and malignancy on all the tests,so far. I have had a supracervical hysterectomy with cervix left in tact. I have been advised to have a copolscopy, but can't get in for 2 months. Is there an urgency to do the copol sooner? I am wondering why my immune system hasn't cleared the virus after this much time? Am I contagious? Or, is this just dormant and waiting for some stress or something to flare it up? Would the vaccine help me (or partner) now that I have been infected? The test didn't differentiate with respect to the 13 strains. Do I have an obligation to inform a sex partner who may or may not have been the one who passed it on to me and may now be passing it on to others?
The "Comments" posted below are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances
The "Comments" posted below are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Go read about genital warts and HPV. Start with www.metrock.gov/health/apu/std and www.cdc.gov/std. Or just use the search link on this forum to search for "HPV" or "genital warts".
I have done so much research and am confused about having High-Risk HPV.
High risk HPV does not cause warts?
I can infect my partner gentialy and orally?
If he gets it orally from me can he then turn around and give it to me orally?
Can you fight off High Risk HPV or will it only lay dormat?
I am sorry to be such a bother but all the information out there is confusing?
High risk HPV does not cause warts?
I can infect my partner gentialy and orally?
If he gets it orally from me can he then turn around and give it to me orally?
Can you fight off High Risk HPV or will it only lay dormat?
I am sorry to be such a bother but all the information out there is confusing?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This really is more an ObG question than an STD one; I am more of an expert on HPV transmission and acquisition per se, and on genital warts, than on the management of abnormal pap smears or cervical HPV infection. So if my opinion differs from that of your ObG provider, go with him or her, not me.
Having said that, there is no hurry at all. Even if you had a cytologic lesion (dysplasia, 'intraepithelial lesion', etc), the average time from onset of that abnormality to invasive cervical cancer is 5-10 years. There is no realistic chance of an increased health risk by wating 2 months. In fact, part of the reason for waiting might be that your provider expects there is a better chance that by waiting your HPV infection will go away in the meantime--that the colpo will be normal and nothing need be done.
You needn't worry about 'why my immune system hasn't cleared the virus after this much time'. As best I can tell, your infection has been present around 1.5 years, which is well within the norm for a high risk HPV type. The average time to spontaneous resolution for the high risk types is 11 months, but it can take anywhere from 1-2 months to 2+ years.
As long as you have HPV detectable, you can transmit it to your sex partner(s). The HPV vaccine would do nothing for your current infection. Immunization also is not likely to have any benefit for your partner. Since he presumably has been exposed numerous times since your first positive test, you can assume he already is infected--indeed, he might have been the source of your current infection.
Whether to inform your current or other partners is a judgment call without a definitive answer, in my opinion. Whether you tell them or not is unlikely to affect their health or the health of their other partners, since the vast majority of infections both in men and in their other potential partners are likely to be asymptomatic. On the other hand, there is a lot of emotion and uncertainty about this, and lots of people would argue that given media attention and a sense of responsibility, many (most?) such men would prefer to know about your infection, even if they can't do much about it. Sorry to be so vague, but that's the state of the art (more than science) about partner notification for cervical HPV infection. In other words, it's up to you. (However, you could post that question on the STD support forum. You undoubtedly would get a wide range of fervently stated opinion!)
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Having said that, there is no hurry at all. Even if you had a cytologic lesion (dysplasia, 'intraepithelial lesion', etc), the average time from onset of that abnormality to invasive cervical cancer is 5-10 years. There is no realistic chance of an increased health risk by wating 2 months. In fact, part of the reason for waiting might be that your provider expects there is a better chance that by waiting your HPV infection will go away in the meantime--that the colpo will be normal and nothing need be done.
You needn't worry about 'why my immune system hasn't cleared the virus after this much time'. As best I can tell, your infection has been present around 1.5 years, which is well within the norm for a high risk HPV type. The average time to spontaneous resolution for the high risk types is 11 months, but it can take anywhere from 1-2 months to 2+ years.
As long as you have HPV detectable, you can transmit it to your sex partner(s). The HPV vaccine would do nothing for your current infection. Immunization also is not likely to have any benefit for your partner. Since he presumably has been exposed numerous times since your first positive test, you can assume he already is infected--indeed, he might have been the source of your current infection.
Whether to inform your current or other partners is a judgment call without a definitive answer, in my opinion. Whether you tell them or not is unlikely to affect their health or the health of their other partners, since the vast majority of infections both in men and in their other potential partners are likely to be asymptomatic. On the other hand, there is a lot of emotion and uncertainty about this, and lots of people would argue that given media attention and a sense of responsibility, many (most?) such men would prefer to know about your infection, even if they can't do much about it. Sorry to be so vague, but that's the state of the art (more than science) about partner notification for cervical HPV infection. In other words, it's up to you. (However, you could post that question on the STD support forum. You undoubtedly would get a wide range of fervently stated opinion!)
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
