HPV

[maggiegirl]

I was recently told I tested positive for HPV in January.  Retested last week and tested positive again.  No one told me that I tested positive in November of 2005, either.  I was and have been negative for intrapetithelial lesion and malignancy.  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 this 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?

[tlh777]

you should go sooner.get an appointement somewhere else if you can.your hpv sounds like the high risk type.whoever gave this to you should be warned.i am going to assume a man gave this to you.he has a high risk strain of hpv and is at risk for penile cancer.you both should get the hpv vaccination.

[tlh777]

i also should have added that you should tell your doctor about your immune concerns.

[Rosehoney]

Most people with HPV never develop anything from it. Low risk HPV causes warts and they are never cancerous.  High risk HPV can cause cell changes which can in some small cases lead to cancer. It's an extremely common virus - 80% - 90% of the sexually active population have HPV or already had a HPV infection.  You should be using condoms to lessen the chance of transmission but remember, you don't need to have actual intercourse to get HPV, any skin-to-skin contact will do it.  That includes mutual masturbation, oral sex or just plain playing around.  To tell someone that you are thinking of getting sexual with is a  good thing but not really necessary.  Most likely they already have it anyway.  There is no test for HPV in men.  If they get warts, that's basically the only way they will know they have it. Still, I would insist on a condom and not engage in oral sex.  I have high risk HPV which caused LGSIL so I have done a lot of research on this subject.  One thing I have learned is that taking folic acid and a good vitamin daily will help.  Keep your immunity strong. Always use condoms if you engage in sexual relations.  Eat lots of fruits and veggies, stay away from processed food (they just aren't healthy anyway.)  Good luck to you.  

[Rosehoney]

Sorry I missed answering the main questions on your post!!  If you can get a colposcopy sooner than waiting 2 months, that would be great.  It's just test to see if there is anything to biopsy.  I had one done and the dr didn't find anything to biopsy.  She just said come back in 6 months.  It's a little uncomfortable but not worse than getting a pap (I thought so at least).  If they do find something, there is a lot they can do.  It can take 10 yrs for cancer to develop but a small percentage will progress to cancer sooner.  I think it's always better to be safe than sorry.  Please remember, most people don't get cancer from HPV.  If they do, it is usually curable. When it's not curable is when people don't go to the doctor and get treated.  

If you have to wait 2 months, that's not so bad.  Just be sure you get one done.

As for your immune system, it can take 18 - 24 months for your system to control the HPV virus so the fact that it hasn't done it yet isn't really so unusual.

Take folic acid daily.  That will build up your immunity.

[maggiegirl]

Thanks Rosey for the comment and the information.  I have the high risk strain of HPV.  The pap didn’t differentiate the 13 strains, so I am assuming I have been infected with one or more of them.  I have to wait to talk to the Dr. So far I don’t have abnormal cells.  The first year my dr was testing for HPV was in 2005.  I tested positive then but pap was normal.  I don’t know about the previous years because they weren’t testing for it. If I had it prior to that time, I would have thought my immune system would have cleared it. So, I have no idea how long I have had it, or if it has been dormant.  The paps have always been normal. I do take folic acid and lots of vitamin and herb supplements.  My dr also gave me humic acid.  He believes it will help with the immunity and the virus.  I am never sick so I thought my immune system was pretty good. I am on a cancellation list to get in sooner than the 2 months, if possible. I have an appt for another retest in 3 months.  It''s been since November 2005 that I tested positive, so I guess I have a few more months to go to hit the 24 month mark.

[maggiegirl]

Thanks tlh for the information.  I do have the high risk strain but so far the paps have been normal and no abnormal cells so far.  I don’t know how long I have had this because my dr only started testing for HPV in 2005 when I first tested positive.  I have been told that the vaccination wouldn’t help if I am already infected with the high risk strain.  I am on the cancellation list for a sooner appt if one comes up before the 2 month one.

[tlh777]

the vaccination will not cure the hpv you have but it does protect against 4 strains of hpv that you could still get.if you can you should get the vaccination and so should any sex partners you have.also men can have an anal pap test for hpv.here are some good links.

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

http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/cancer/cupp1/

[maggiegirl]

Thanks tlh...I will look into those.  So much information.  I don't know which strains I have, just that the test didn't differentiate from the 13 that are high risk.

[s. w,17th street]

I would like to share my situation. I am 44 years old. I went to have my annual check-up in April 2007.  This is the first time that my docotor performed Pap with DNA HPV. The results:  Negative Pap and Positive HPV.  My Dr did colposcopy and came back negative. I will have another colposcopy in six months.

I really hope that people who are clear of HPV could come back and share their experience and give us some hope and encouragment. I will do that.

Does anyone have a similar situation?

[maggiegirl]

s. w,17th street  I am 56 and tested positive unbeknownst to me in Nov. 2005.  I tested positive again in Jan. 2007.  I retested a week ago and tested positive again for high risk, but no abnormal cells. I would be interested to know the statistics in my age bracket. My doctor didn't test for DNA HPV until 2005 so I may have had this longer than that, which is disturbing. The pap didn't differentiate between the 13 high risk strains. I have a copol scheduled in 2 months.  I would like to retest sooner, but can't get in any earlier.  I am healthy as a horse and I am rarely ever sick so I don't know why I haven't cleared it by now, if it has in fact, been longer than 2 years.

I, too, would like to know from someone who has cleared and how long it took.

I am also 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? Would they want to know?

[clearmoon]

Sorry that I forgot my user name and password, so I have to use a new name. Thank you for sharing your information.

Here is what I think:

1. Your immune system is very good and it keeps the virus in check. Let's hope that the infection will never bother you.

2.  It hasn't been two years since you were tested positive. Some research indicated that the virus is more persistent in older women.  It may take some time. What did you Dr say about your situation?

I am very concerned myself.  We have the same situation: positive HPV, negative pap.  I also had a colposcy and it was also negative. I will go back in Oct to do all three tests again.

In terms of the partener issue, I only have two. You can never determine which one gave it you.  

Let me know your colposcoy result. Good luck!

[clearmoon]

I would REALLY like to know any women who is over 40  had postive HPV in the past, but tested negative HPV now.  My major concern is the persistent HPV infection and that can lead to cervical diseases.  
Thanks!

[maggiegirl]

As best I can tell, since my doctor wasn't testing for HPV prior to 2005, I have had the viruse at least 1 1/2 years. I don't know the status prior to that time. I haven't been able to talk to my doctor yet.  My appt in July has been rescheduled to August for the Copolscopy unless I get a cancellation before.  I have a feeling that there won't be anything to biopsy and then I will have to do the retest on the pap.

I, too, have been concerned about the persistence of the virus.  I think my immune system is very strong. I don't know why it hasn't suppressed it by now.
And, whether I will always have the virus and it will just be suppressed and could flare up at another time. Lots of questions I will be asking at my appt.

It is very distracting that so much time has to pass before retesting can take place.  I would also like to know of older women who have tested positive and have been clear and how long it took to clear the virus.

Thanks for the comment.

[furiousgirl]

4 years ago, I had a minor abnormal Papsmear. My gynecologist then was adamant about electrocauterizing a portion of my cervix because she thinks if I didn't, it could lead to cancer. She also believed I have had a miscarriage because my cervix looks like it has been through some trauma, unless, I was born that way, with a starlit cervix. I have never had children, and at that time, have had unprotected sex with 3 partners so far. The last one a current boyfriend. I was only 26 yo. She also empirically treated me for foul discharge. But, I got nervous about the electrocautery, I sought out a second opinion from another gynecologist one week later. The 2nd gynecologist did another 2nd Pap Smear and thought my cervix was as healthy as it can be and that I do not need to have it cauterized. I expressed my interest in having children then but compalained about pain during sexual intercourse. She told me I should just have sex and that the pain was only in my head. By the following year, my Pap was still normal. Then I moved away and started dating another guy, had a Pap Smear, it was again normal. I broke up with the 4th boyfriend and had a 5th in the same year, then a year later, MY PAP CAME BACK POSITIVE FOR HPV and Epithelial changes, it said high risk HPV, which is of course the pre-cursor to Cervical CA. I was so furious with my last boyfriend because I thought I got it from him since all my other PAPs were normal until now. But from all my readings, it appears we really cannot tell. Now I am furious with the entire male race and don't ever want to have sex again. It is totally disabling mentally. There is no way I can ever feel normal again. Or ever trust another man again. I feel like my whole life has just been taken away from me! I have been divorced now for 5 years, oh it makes me so mad that I may not have a shot at a real marriage now or a family! It makes me sick. If I have had it from the very beginning, then I have had it for at least 4 years now. That is a very long time and I cannot believe I am 30 yo and might have CA in 5 years time! & may never have children. I had a colposcopy done 2 weeks after the abnormal PAP, and now still waiting for the results. It's been 2 weeks also. How long does it take to get results? Either way, I am resigned to beating this thing. I will not lose my cervix, and I am determined to still have children!