Question about genital warts and HPV

[jonathon882001]

My wifes paps smear came back abnormal, gyn told her she has genital warts. Sample was taken from inside of her(biopsy) for testing which caused her cramping we are still waiting for the results. 1 1/2 week later.

Can you please tell me if genital warts can be the cause of the abnormal pap smear? Or does the abnormal pap smear only be caused by adnormal cell changes which are pre cancerous from HPV. Would we be able to have kids without the kids getting this virus as well? what are the chances?

Is it possible since she has warts internal for the warts to be external as well>? Is this true that after you get diagnosed with HPV theres a chance your immune system can wipe it out and cause no more symptoms? Is is true that once treated for genial it might never come back?

Im really worried about HPV and her genital warts> Does this always cause cancer? because i read different stories and many have different views on this? please help!! sayin if left untreated can increase ur chances of cancer, but then again if can never cause cancer? Please help!!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your wife's gynecologist either is misinformed or you have misunderstood what s/he has said, most likely the latter.  A pap smear is not capable of distinguishing HPV type, ie infection with "low risk" (wart-causing) vs "high-risk" strains; and it does not tell the difference between warts and non-wart HPV infection.  

Answering your questions would require too much writing on my part, and every one of your questions have been repeatedly answered on this forum.  Search for posts that address HPV or warts; read all those, and also read the HPV/warts article under the link "STD Quick Facts and Articles" at the top of the STD forum.  After that, if you still have questions, post a follow-up question in this thread.  Do not start a new thread again; if you do, your question will be deleted without response.

HHH, MD

[jonathon882001]

I apologize doctor. The gyn did a hpv test after her pap test came back abnormal and determined that my wife has hpv..would you know what caused the abnormal pap test? the gyn told her she doesnt have signs of hpv but does have inflammation..what does this mean exactly. Can you please explain.

I have read the forum and continue to read others as well. gyn did not tell my wife what type of hpv she has, would she be able to determine with the a biopsy or an hpv test? do we have to ask her to find out or should she just tell us?

if she has a baby does this increase the chances of her having symptoms of hpv? does chances of hpv infections increase with age i read it does

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I'm sorry, I can't answer such specific questions about a particular patient; it's too close to practicing medicine, which I cannot do on line.  All the answers are available in the sources I described before, or in further discussions with your wife's doctor.  Bottom line:  follow her doctor's advice about further evaluation and treatment.  With proper management, there is zero risk of invasive cancer or of serious threats to her health, to yours, or to that of any children she may bear.

Good luck--

HHH, MD

[lmroswell]

I understand, recently, that some OB/GYNs are testing for the presence HPV in their patients, along with the yearly Pap testing.  This is becoming more routine. If a patient tests positive, and they have an irregular pap smear result, they are monitored more frequently for abnormal cell changes.  I'm not an expert, but testing positive for HPV is no biggie.  Around 80-90 percent of the population does.

[jonathon882001]

is it possible that if you have an abnormal pap test that means u have abnormal cell changes on the cervix, or can warts produce adnormal pap tests too? is it true the immune system can wipe away this virus and show no symptoms? is it true the immune system can  turn the abnormal cells into normal again?

being she has no symptoms of hpv but the gyn sees inflammation and had an abnormal pap test are these considered symptoms of hpv? since she tested positive?

[lmroswell]

You are asking questions that a professional needs to answer.  What I do know, is that testing positive for HPV is not a big deal.  Some people go through their whole life not even knowing they have it.  Abnormal PAP smears happen from time to time, and then they can come back normal.  Inflammation can be caused by so many different things.  You sound a little overly concerned.  I would talk with your doctor.

[jonathon882001]

i heard most hpv can go away within a year, within a year of what when you first get exposed or when you first show symptoms like abnormal cells, abnormal pap test and/or inflammation of the vagina due to this virus, or warts etc. im confused about this part.

most of the time when u have abnormal pap test that means you have hpv and thats what she has now. they say u can go thru your whole life without knowing you have hpv, since she tested postive for hpv what does this mean now?

[lmroswell]

It means that she has been exposed to the HPV virus along with the 80-90 percent of the rest of the population.  If she has symptoms, then the doctor can treat that.  I don't know the specifics as to how the body deals with the virus.  What I do know, is that some (don't have %) cervical cancers can be attributed to this virus.  And the doctors are now able to test for exposure to this virus.  If a positive result appears, it gives the patient and the doctor a heads up to monitor for abnormal cell changes in the cervix more closely.   Just testing positive for HPV is not that great a thing to be concerned about, especially, if she is not symptomatic.  Neither is an abnormal PAP smear.  I've known several people that have had those results, and later have had normal ones.  My mother-in-law passed away 9 years ago, from cervical cancer.  She never went to the doctor.   9 years ago, they did not test for this virus, now they do.  It does not mean that if a person does test positive, they will get cancer.  It is just another tool we have to be more attentive  and treating the cancer, if it does appear, more quickly.  Cervical cancer is highly curable, if caught early.

[jonathon882001]

what are the chances that the baby might get it when they are born? i hear the immune system can wipe out hpv and never show symptoms or abnormal cells is this correct? can warts cause abnormal cells in the cervix and if so are they cancerous?

I hear you have to keep a good immune system so your body will be able to fight hpv better and wipe it out is this correct?

im really worried about my wife getting cancer from hpv what are the chances, i hear so many stories, please help thanks

[lmroswell]

Again, I am not an expert, and am only qualified to talk about this because I am an informed female.  I don't know if the baby can get HPV from the mother.  What I do know, is that the baby shares the same antibodies as the mother, so, if the mother is immune to something, chances are the baby shares the same immunity, but for only a while.  That's why we get our babies immunized against diseases.  The immunity that the mother has is short lived in their babies.  If you are concerned, your wife's OB/GYN should be able to answer your question.  Believe me, they do everything they can to deliver a healthy baby, and I think the doc would more than willingly give you an answer, so you stop worrying about things.  Abnormalities in the cervix can be caused by many things, same with inflammation.  An abnormal PAP does not mean the cells are cancerous.  Cancer cells are cancer cells, not just abnormal ones.  As far as I know, yes, our immune system can wipe out the virus for HPV, so that it no longer is contagious.  But, we will still show antibodies in our system that would indicate we have had an exposure to the virus.  Same as chicken pox, etc.  When is your wife due?  I would simply call the doc and ask the questions you are having.  Make sure he explains it to you in simple terms so that you understand.  Go with you wife to her next appt.  Don't worry so much, and think about the all the fun you are going to have with the new baby.  :)

[jonathon882001]

thank you for your advice, shes not pregnant yet but we are thinking about a baby, the most important thing right now i am worrying about is about the abnormal pap smear and the abnomal cell changes, which can lead to cancer. gyn told her that she has hpv which is causing the inflammation and the abnormal pap smear. can she go with her life without getting any symptoms of hpv? does being pregnant increase the risk of gettting symptoms?

if she had this in her system and the doc just found out she has hpv because of abnormal pap smear is this a symptom of hpv. it says after 2 years 90 % of women get rid of this virus. is it from the time she shows symptoms or from the time she gets infeted?

[lmroswell]

From what I understand, this testing is becoming more routine with the regular gyn checkup.  I think they've recently started doing this.  I know that in the past, I've not been tested as part of the regular workup.  But, if I were to test positive, I would not freak out about it.  The abnormal PAP, could be abnormal due to the HPV or inflammation from something else.  I don't know how long it takes the body to take care of this virus, but I am pretty sure that once exposed, your body will show positive for the antibodies forever.  Again, I am no expert.  Having an abnormal PAP is not that big a deal in most cases.  They usually will repeat the PAP in 6 months.  I've known several people that have gotten abnormal PAPs and then have them normal again.  I think that it's been recently discovered, I am not sure how long ago, that HPV plays a role in causing cervical cancer.  But, the timeline is not like you get exposed to this virus and then you get cervical cancer.  It's not like that.  What they are saying is that if you test positive for HPV, your risk of getting cervical cancer is increased.  Then, if you have an abnormal PAP, they will monitor your PAPs more frequently, and hopefully, they return to normal.  But, just because you test positive for the HPV, doesn't mean you will get cancer.  You don't need to worry so much about this.  If your wife tests positive and is not symptomatic, I would not worry.

[jonathon882001]

well her gyn told her the inflammation and the abnormal cells are due to her hpv now she didnt tell her what kind she has how will we know? what are anitbodies is this what ur body makes to fight off the virus? i just hope everything works out and i hate to see her go through anything...the worry that one day she can get symptoms scares me alot. i really hope she doesnt.

[jonathon882001]

can you please tell me if one person has hpv and shares a drink with someone else can that person can hpv as well? what does it mean if you share a drink with a person and then the next day that person has a sore throat, is this related in any way?

[ramblinrosegurl]

A related discussion, how do i know? was started.