DO YOU TELL ABOUT HIGH RISK HPV?

[maggiegirl]

I have tested positive for high risk HPV for 1 1/2 years and only recently was made aware, but still do not have abnormal cells.  I am concerned about the obligation, if any, to tell a partner who may, or may not be the source of the infection....especially since there is no test and no symptoms. Do I care about other unsuspecting people he could pass to, or should everyone keep themselves informed of the calculated risks? Statistics indicate that sexually active people have either already had the infection or would get it in their lifetime....and most likely men won't even know they have it unless they have genital warts.... so, would men even want to know that I can pass it on?  How about women? How are they to know if men don't know they have it unless a partner tells them that they have tested positive and that most likely they have it too?

[tlh777]

most men that get penile and anal cancer have high risk hpv.i would want to know.and my partners should be informed.

[maggiegirl]

tlh777-What if the man who passed the HIV to me, if he did and although it can't be proven, could his immune system have already cleared the virus? How can they test?

[s.m.o.g]

all men have hpv lol no but seriously most men now days are carriers damn it!
if your pap is normal and you where diagnosed with hpv then you should get another pap in a few months. Once you have sex with one person and your with them if you are monogomous then what ever was passed to one another has been done nothing more to pass on, chances are the male will never have symptoms but if you decide to have sex with someone else then you should take precautions and use a condom. If your pap came back normal then there is no need for any type of bipsy...

[maggiegirl]

s.m.o.g.- I have had 3 paps that came back with no abnormal cells....yet. I am still positive on the HPV for 1 1/2 years, but do not know which strain.  The test didn't differentiate among the 13 high risk strains.  I am scheduled for a copolscopy soon.  I understand that the virus lives in the skin and that condoms may help in not transmitting, but that there are areas that are not covered by a condom that are still vulnerable. I guess we are all carriers now, aren't we?

[tlh777]

if you are only with the man that gave it to you then he has it and you should tell him.if you are with someone else you should tell him.even if it were low risk hpv.if i were with someone i would want to know any stds the person had.his immune system could have cleared the hpv already.the only test for men i know of is the anal pap test.here is a link for more information.

http://aids.about.com/cs/conditions/a/analpaps.htm

[Rosehoney]

The question of whether to tell a new bf or gf is important.  My gut says yes however most people who have it, don't know they have it and those people aren't going to tell anyone simply because they don't know!!!!  HPV is extremely contagious too. The fact is that unless you and your partner are virgins and never had ANY type of sexual experience (I'm talking heavy petting, mutual masterbastion, oral, not just intercourse) the chances of someone being exposed already is highly likely.  Some dr consider it like a "cold" and a fact of being human.

I do think if you have warts, and are having an active case of them, you should tell your partner because it's not fair to expose them to getting those.

HPV is something everyone should probably talk about, if only to be aware of it and make sure you go to the dr for check ups.  Don't forget to take folic acid and not smoke.  Also getting another STD can lower your immunity so it's much better to stay in a monogomous relatioship.

I know a lot of people who have herpes and they don't tell their new partners and to me, that's really wrong.  But if I think they should be telling their partners then  why should I feel like I don't have to tell my new partner since I now know that I have the high risk HPV?  I think me personally would have to say something and then discuss the facts with that person although it will be really embarrassing to me.  

I do think maggiegirl, that even though you have high risk HPV, there is a good chance that nothing will come of it.  Just take your vitamins, don't smoke and see your dr.  Also, if you do have sex with someone else, use a condom.  It will at least protect you from getting another STD.

[maggiegirl]

tlh-thanks I did look at that url.  I think I read something about the cancer society not recommending that test.  Isn't it pretty prevalent in gay men? I don't have the strain that causes warts, otherwiseI probably wouldn't be on the fence so much about telling.  There are 2 posssibles that may have infected me.  One I have told, who didn't think it was a big deal and that he doesn't have it because he had a blood draw.  Silly boy, isn't he?

[maggiegirl]

Rosiehoney-I wish I knew which strain I have, because I suppose I could still become infected with a different strain. Do you know which strain you have?  Or, if there is a specific test? Mine just said positive for the 13 high risk strains.

Obviously, my partner is infected.  We have had unprotected sex for 2 years. So, I can also assume that he could probably be passing it on to someone else since I am still positive.  You are right.  Telling him could be embarrassing.  The dr. here says that it's a judgment call and telling him probably wouldn't affect his health or his other future partners. So I am still on the fence. I did tell the other partner who could be the first culprit...he doesn't seem concerned because he thinks he doesn't have it.  He thinks he has been tested by a blood draw and I couldn't convince him otherwise.  So, anyway, I am relieved of that obligtion.

I don't smoke and take lots of vitamins and supplements, so I am not quite sure why I haven't cleared the virus by now. I would think that my immune system is pretty strong since I am never sick. My doctor also put me on a supplement called Humic Acid which he felt was a good treatment for the virus.

Obviously, it only seems to be a real pain in the rear for women who will have to deal with the stress of having to be tested every three or four months, have the copolscopies periodically and in general have it on their mind all the time. Men won't even know.

[Rosehoney]

I know, what you are saying is soooo true!!!!!  They don't know which type of high risk HPV I have, they just know that I tested positive for high risk HPV.  For all I know, I could have just one type or all 4 or however many types there are.  I think that there must be a DNA test for the different types of HPV but it's probably really expensive.  


As for the guy that said he had the blood test, there isn't a blood test for HPV.  It's a skin to skin virus.  Just for the record, you can safely donate blood, it isn't passed that way.  

I know HPV has been getting alot of press but that's because of the vaccines so those Pharmaceutical companies are making a big deal about it to scare people into getting their vaccine.  Now, I'm not saying that young girls shouldn't get the vaccine.  If something would help prevent a cancer, than it's a good thing.  It's also good because the news is getting out there however this virus is so common, that like I said 80% of sexually people have it.  And in most cases, it doesn't do anything!!!!  I think because it's considered an STD, people feel bad about having it but look at it like a cold.  Can't you get a cold from kissing someone? Of course, so then technically that was an STD.  

As long as your paps are ok, I don't know why are you getting a new one every six months with colposcopies.  That seems a bit much to me.  If one of your paps comes back with abnormal cells, then you have to go back every 6 months.  Just the fact that you tested positive for HPV, from what I understand, doesn't mean that you need a pap every 6 months.  At least, that was my understanding.

[maggiegirl]

Rosey-I had to laugh when the guy said he had a blood test.....so I thought  well, I did my part and I'm not about telling him anymore.

I'm not sure about the copol...and why they wanted me to have one.  Maybe because of my age, or the fact that the virus is still there after almost 2 years? They told me to retest on the pap at 4-6 months.  I was antsy and went ahead and did it at 4 months.  Even the year that lapsed from the time of very first one was still testing positive.  I understand it can take 5-10 years for cancer cells to become invasive.  Or, maybe I could just have the virus for years.  As long as it is detectable on the pap, I guess I am still contagious.

I really would like to know on the test which strain(s) I have. i am going to ask my dr. That would go a long way giving some comfort to know that once I had a specific one(s) that I wouldn't be reinfected with a the same strain(s) again.....

[Rosehoney]

Hey maggie,

I do remember my dr. saying that once I have a normal pap, I can go back to yearly visits. It can take up to 2 yrs or longer for the body's immune system to keep HPV under control so you are really right on target with things.  And yes, cancer does take years to develop.  As long as you keep getting your paps, and g taking care of things if  something comes back abnormal, you will be fine.  Trust me on this one.  I've done tons of research and belong to a hpv support group so we share all kinds of information.  

This is just my opinion and of course I am not a doctor, but it sounds like your doctor's office is making a big deal out of nothing. As far as I can tell, you only know your HPV status, you haven't developed any abnormal cells.  Oh well, as long as your insurance will pay for the tests, then why not???  Try not to worry so much, ok?  And if you don't feel right about telling your boyfriend then you don't have to.  I'm not sure I would if I was in your shoes either.  He already has it and he could have gotten from someone else before you.  Like your dr said, it really isn't going to effect him one way or the other.  (Is he circumcised?  I've heard this helps lowers a man's chance of penile cancer.  Just a thought.)

Good luck with the hpv type test. I hope it brings you some sense of peace.  And by the way, you sound like a very nice and caring person! rosey  


  

[maggiegirl]

Thanks for taking the time to give me your comments.  What is the support group that you belong to?  I think maybe I am the one who is making a big deal out of it more than the doctor.  I immediately started asking questions and researching. And, I got a little anxious when they didn’t tell me in 05 that I was positive.  Maybe it wasn’t a big deal to them.  All I know Is that I have squamous metaplastic cells which I understand are benign changes in the transformation zone.  I hope the 2 year mark will be it and I won’t have to be concerned with it anymore. And, yes, so far the insurance is paying for the tests.  The boyfriend is circumcised so maybe that is more comfort. I still am on the fence about telling him….I don’t want to make him bolt. We both have it and there isn’t any blame to go around.  Maggie

[Rosehoney]

Hi Maggie,

I just asked my support group about the dna testing as well as telling your boyfriend.  

Testing:  They said, yes there is a test to find out which strain of HPV you have.  They don't recommend it because it really doesn't matter if you 1, 2 or more strains.  It really doesn't make that much difference.  It's up to you though because if you think it will make you feel better then do it.  

As for telling your boyfriend:  You don't need to do that either.  For the high risk HPV, it doesn't do much to them.  (I suppose if it were  gay man having lots of anal and oral sex with a bunch of different people, that would be cause for concern.)  Most of the women in the support are married and the ones that have answered me said nothing has happened to their husbands.  Only them, how lucky...

I guess that the reason I keep answering your posts is because I can relate - I found out last fall that I had high risk HPV because of an abnormal pap (LGSIL). I can understand where you are coming from, I was there a few months ago.  Scared and petrified.  I just wanted to assure you that YOU are going to be fine!  Here's the rest of my story:  LGSIL is usually caused by HPV so that's why my dr had me tested for it.  I was scared, horrified and felt lost.  The dr at the time made me feel horrible, like I was the only one who had this awful "disease" and was a slut. NO SUPPORT FROM HER WHATSOEVER.  For the record, I don't sleep around.  She couldn't answer any of my questions just kept screaming that I needed to go get a colposcopy.  (She wasn't a gyno.)  Petrified, I started researching every site I could to find to get answers.  Slowly, I educated myself but it was hard because the information seemed either very simplistic or really technical and I couldn't understand it.  I just recently found the support group and they have been a big help.  They know so much!!!  I have since "fired" the first dr because she is ignorant and I don't want someone like that taking care of my health.  I have a new gyno now that I see for my check ups.  I hope that I have helped you. If you want to know more about the support group it's through http://health.groups.yahoo.com.  Once you get there, go to Women and type in HPV and it will list all the groups for HPV. (I like the CinVinVain group.)  Hope this helps!!!! Now quit worrying about all this and go have a great weekend with your boyfriend!!!!!!!  All the best, rosey

[clearmoon]

Thank you for all your comments. I have a similar situaiton like yours. I am 44.
I went for a routine physical check-up in April.  Results:  Negative Pap, Positive HPV. My Dr performed Colcopscy, it was negative.

Here are my questions:

1.  With 4-6 follow-up, can we prevent cerical cancer from developing?
2.  At my age, is it possible for HPV to 'go away" or test negative?
3.  During the waiting time 4-6 check-up, are we pretty safe?

I have never tested HPV, this is the first time. I have two partners all my life. I don't know how long I havead HPV. It is a very stressful.  I am grateful for any comments and suggestions.

Thanks!

[maggiegirl]

I understand how stressful it is.  I am struggling with the same.  I also don’t know how long I have had it prior to November 2005, because my doctor wasn’t testing for it until then. I don’t know much, but I understand that it takes 5-10 years for cells to become invasive and that cervical cancer is treatable.  And, that the odds are in our favor if we keep up regular pap smears, which I have always done.  I think that the immune system can suppress it to where it won’t be detectable on the HPV DNA test, but that we may still have it dormant in our system…and most likely won’t cause problems.  One of the doctors in the forum told me that as long as it is detectable, we can pass it on, but that our partner would have already been exposed so that wouldn’t really be an issue. They feel that all sexually active people will have it at some point in their lifetime.   All this doesn’t really ease your mind, though, because you have to wait so long in between tests to find out. My doctor put me on Humic Acid and patients said that her next pap was negative on the HPV.  So, it is worth a try, in the interim, I think. I take lots of vitamin and herb supplements.  I have read that green tea, aloe vera juice and astralgalus are good for the immune system so I am taking those, as well.

[clearmoon]

What is humic acid? Where can I get it? Please let me know.
Thanks a lot!

[rogerdoger500]

Men need to know.

I had more than a few relationships in which this information was withheld from me on the belief that it does nothing to men.

Well wake up ladies it does.
We carry it and we pass it on, if someone had been kind enough to inform of that... which I am sure they found out about when they went through the process... then I wouldnt have infected other people.

[sweetkatie16]

I just had the same results as you 2 weeks ago.  My problem is getting the colp.  I travel for a living and will not be back to that doctor until November.  What would you do?

How long can i wait...should I wait...am I going to be ok?

Also on the fense telling my bf.  I had the test last year and didn't have HPV or an adnormal pap smear.  I was with my other bf at the time and we broke up middle of september.  I started seeing my current bf two weeks after that..we were friends during my break-up and naturally fell into a relationship. So...who gave it to me?  Should I tell him I have high risk...that would stress him out beyond belief ( he has alot on his plate right now)..


What would you do?