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HPV false positive possiblity

How accurate is HPV testing? Can you get a false positive?  I have been married 41 years and he is the only sexual partner I have ever had. We married young (I was 17 and he was 20). We were both (supposedly) virgins when we married.  I have never had sexual contact with anyone else (not even heavy petting).  I only had one other boyfriend, and all we ever did was kiss, not even any fondling. Well, even though I always thought I didn't need HPV testing (because we were monogamous), I always elected to do the testing.  My pap smear was normal, but I tested positive for HPV 16 & 18, the kind that causes cervical cancer.
  Of course, I was pretty upset, and after researching HPV, calmly confronted my husband.  He claims he has never had any other sexual relationships, before or during our marriage.  Four weeks after the first test, I went back to the doctor for some answers and they let me be retested. Guess what? It came back negative!  Of course, I know, and the doctor said that just because it came back negative doesn't mean that I haven't been infected with HPV, that it probably went dormant.  On the other hand, my husband insists that he knew it would be negative because he has done nothing wrong.  I don't know what to think!  He has never given any signs that he has been unfaithful at any time during our marriage.  Our sex life is more active now than when our children were young! He is home at 5:00 every day, home all weekend, doesn't even drink or go to bars, or hang out with friends without me.  This is causing me so much stress, I cry every day.
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Avatar universal
I can't be certain, but I  have hearda it can  be transmitted if your mother or his mother had it when she deliverd Same with him,mind you I am not saying that is the case but it is possible. I hope all works out and that you don't have it, please don't lose trust in him if he has shown no signs of cheating. It is such a beautiful thing to see a couple that got married at such a young age and have stayed together for as long as the two of you have. Especially with it being the case that you gave yourselves to each other and only to each other. To see that there is such a thing as genuine love and being a young adult myself is very encouraging. Best of luck to you both.
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Thanks so much for your reply! We truly have had a wonderful marriage.  He is a sweet, thoughtful, patient man.  This is the biggest issue we have ever faced.  And we have never had any major disagreements in the time we have been married, we never really argued or had fights.   During the two weeks I received the first test results and the second test results, I was a real basket case. I would cry all day, then try to compose myself before he got home, but when I would see him, I would just lose it.  Everyday I would question him (I still do occasionally) and he would reassure me that there had to be some mistake. My heart really wants to believe him, but my gut says tests don't lie, especially when they diagnosis a particular strain (as in 16 & 18).  He tells me he loves me and wants to be with only me and that he would never be unfaithful.  It is always in the back of my mind though. I've told him that if anything had happened, it is already in the past, over and done with and that I wouldn't throw our marriage away.  Of course, you never really know what you would do when faced with infidelity.

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973741 tn?1342342773
COMMUNITY LEADER
Ahh, I'm so sorry you've had to worry about this!  I will say that I'm really glad that it is now negative but sorry you've had this scare.  I'm sure you are going to be retested to make sure it is a negative.  And yes, there is a false positive rate associated.  So, try to trust your husband.  Not worth ruining a great marriage over when the tests are now negative.  good luck hon
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Avatar universal
HPV tests have a false-positive rate of about 15%.
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