Many questions

[confused50644]

Most HPV infections go away without treatment because the immune system finds the virus and either gets rid of it or suppresses it to the point that it is unlikely to cause additional problems. Cell changes that may eventually lead to cervical cancer only occur when this does not happen and HPV stays for many years. Even though HPV is found in cervical cancer, most people testing positive for HPV are not at risk for getting cervical cancer because they have the virus for only a short time (months rather than many years).
Ok my question- I am 50, only had two partners- just diagnosed with HPV Lsil.  Will get procedure to kill abnormal cells shortly.  Question, my doctor says there is nothing to worry about.  It is early and therefore would not lead to cervical cancer.  In reviewing the above statement, I have a concern.  I don't know when I contacted this, pap tests have always been clear.  So if I have had the HPV virus for a long time, ie max it could be would be 8 years.  This would mean that my immune system did not clear it and therefore I would be at additional risk because I was unable to clear virus.   I am very healthy, don't get sick very often and therefore surprised I did not clear virus. Does this mean that it will never clear.  Have been under extreme stress for about 6 mths.  Just trying to understand does the procedure to prevent cervical cancer also help to clear virus or is the virus cleared only by my immune system.  If I continue to be HPV positive but haver negative pap tests, does that mean it will come back or should I expect to see negative HPV and pap tests.  
Another question- once virus is undetectable, or body has cleared, is it still transmitable.  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There are only about 9,000 cases of invasive cervical cancder per year in the US, and almost all those occur in women who don't get pap smears at all.  Those tested and managed properly never get it, for practical purposes.  The details of why HPV persists in some people and not others, and why some persistent infections and not others lead to pre-malignant changes and sometimes to cancer isn't known.  There are no implications for the quality of your immune system or your health in general.

Therefore, your doctor is exactly right:  once you are properly treated (to "kill abnormal cells") there will be nothing to worry about.  You are over-interpreting the scientific information in a very complex and not entirely understood arena.  Regardless of patient age and the duration of HPV infection, almost nobody who is properly managed goes on to develop actual cancer.  The reasons--i.e. the contribution of immune system versus the treatment procedures itself or other unknown factors--are not known with certainty.  Whatever the mechanism, women in your situation rarely if ever continue to transmit HPV to their sex partners, and rarely if ever get yet further pap smear abnormalities in the future, once treated.

So my advice is to just follow your doc's advice and don't let this bother you as much as it has been.  Apart from the inconvenience of the medical procedures themselve--colposcopy, ablative therapy, repeat pap smears, etc--this is not something that should be stressful at all.  You're fine.

I hope this is helpful.  Happy holidays--   HHH, MD

[confused50644]

Thank you so much.  I  have been up all night surfing the web reading so much material and trying to do my best to interpret the medical information sites and blogging stories.  As you can tell, I am very analytical and absolutly devastated to have been diagnosed with HPV.    

[mayflowers]

I think every sexually active person has at least one HPV so you're in good company ;o).  It's so common and most people never know they have/had it.  I had LGSIL caused by high risk HPV.  No treatment was ever needed although I have had two colposcopies for closer review.  I have now reverted back to being negative for high risk HPV and my pap is also back to normal and I am in my late 40's.  This is what usually happens.  Like Dr. HHH said, early treatment is key b/c this never has to progress to cancer.

I had to stop reading the stuff on the web b/c it's confusing.  Listen to the dr's on Medhelp.  They have actually experience treating people everyday with HPV and other STD's.

[confused50644]

Thank you for some piece of mind.  
Can I ask you a question.  How long was it before you reverted back to normal tests and do you have any idea how long you had HPV before you were daignosed with LGSIL.   If this is too personal don't need to respond. Again appreciate your help

[mayflowers]

I don't know how long I had HPV (that's a debate whether it's one from my 20's or a recent infection)  but it was abt 14 months between the first abn-pap - the LGSIL and the normal pap with negative hpv.  I've stopped smoking and started taking a good multi-vitamin plus folic acid.