Ok, I'm really worried I'm pretty sure I have HPV, but what should I expect?

[NV_Dymand]

I thank everyone that responded to me very much, but now I have a new question because I'm nervous. I'am making me a doctors appointment for this tuesday because that's the only day I'am avaliable to go, but I'am second guessing should I go. I'am so worrie about what they are going to do to me. Am I going to feel pain? Can I take an oral medication to get rid of them? Is there something that I can take from CVS or Walgreens? Just period is she going to hurt me? and if it did get on to my cervix, I'm I going to have to get an operation? Laser treatment for any reason? Please somebody help me! I feel alone and scared, and on top of that very embrassed. Because just knowing that I may have something of that sort makes me feel like a nasty person and I truely don't knoe how long its been here. HELP ME PLEASE!

[pinksugar]

Hi,
I was tested for HPV b/c my pap was abnormal. there are several types of HPV. From what i understood from my gyno is that i have the type that causes abnormal cells. They did a freezing on the cells and i took a re pap since every 6 months and they are normal. I had no ideal i had HpV. What makes you think you have HPV if you dont mind me asking. i also am confused about HPV.

[NV_Dymand]

Well, I have little flesh color bumps on the outer layer of my vagina, I've never really noticed them until the other week and it made me nervous, I just thought it was an allergic reaction to something that I was using in the tub, so I stop using it. Something just told me to check again and then they were still there. So I start comparing my bumps to pictures of HPV on the internet, and they looked very similar. Did the freezing hurt? Did you do all in the same day? Was it like an operation?

[pinksugar]

I am no doctor but i am assuming that depending on what type of HPV you have the procedure may be different. I went in one day and it took about 15 minutes. THe only pain you feel is pressure and a little cramping. THe abnormal cells were frozen.
That was 2 years ago. They require you to take a repap one month later then 3 then every six, and once all your paps come back normal you can go back yearly. I choose to go every 6 months to be me assure that i am okay, i actually went in July and my pap came back normal.
I as well was devistated and scared. But as it was said in a thread back at the beginning of october 80% of women have HPV but do not know it, b/c not all get tested for that. if my pap would have not come back abnormal i would have not gotten tested for HPV and known i had potential Cancerous Cells.

[NV_Dymand]

Thank you for everything that you have shared with me, it did ease my mind, but should I go to mo OB/GYN or go straight to the dermatologist?

[pinksugar]

That is up to you. I would go to the gyno. only b/c i would want to know if it is HPV.
No problem, anything to help you ease your mind. I was there once and i know how stressful it can be.
Good luck and keep me posted.

[Alias Lola]

There are over 30 strains of HPV that are sexually transmitted.  The strains that cause visible external warts are not the same strains that cause abnormal cell changes on the cervix.  If you do, in fact, have genital warts -- I think I read in your previous post that you were not diagnosed -- there are many different treatment options.   You don't necessarily have to have surgery.  There is a cream that is applied by the patient called Aldara (you can read about it at www.aldara.com) and they usually go away after a few applications.

Also, you can find some very useful information at the American Social Health Association's Web site.

Go to:

http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_hpv.cfm

Good luck, and don't worry, usually after treatment (whether topical or surgical) the warts do not reappear.

[NV_Dymand]

Thank you, I'm just a little nervous! If they would get attached to your cervix can't they cause me not to be able to have kids?

[Alias Lola]

No, HPV is a usually harmless virus.  And like I said, if you have the strain that causes actual warts, it does not affect your cervix.  And when you do have babies, your ob/gyn will make sure you don't have anything that will affect the baby during the delivery.  And if by chance you do have a wart during the time of delivery, they'll just do a C-section.  

I really suggest that American Social Health Association site.  It's very informative and it will put you at ease.  

[Alias Lola]

And even if you do have the strain that causes cervical changes, you can still have lots of babies after the proper treatment.

Don't worry too much, hon...you'll be okay!

[Alias Lola]

Just got this off the ASHA site.

<<<What about pregnancy and genital warts?

Most pregnant women who have had genital warts previously but no longer do would be unlikely to have any complications or problems during pregnancy or birth.

Most children are born healthy to women with a history of genital warts.

Because of hormone changes in the body during pregnancy, warts can grow in size and number, bleed, or, in extremely rare cases, make delivery harder.

Very rarely, babies exposed to the wart-types of HPV during birth may develop growths in the throat.
This so seldom happens, however, that women with genital warts do not typically need to have a cesarean-section delivery unless warts are blocking the birth canal. It is important that a pregnant woman notify her doctor or clinic if she or her partner(s) has had genital warts. This way they can determine if they need to treat the warts, or not, during the pregnancy.>>>

[Alias Lola]

You don't even know if you truly have HPV.  Get diagnosed first, and relax!

[NV_Dymand]

Thank you sooooooo much! You made me feel alot better than I was feeling, and when I find out, you'll be the first to know!

[Confused8]

There is a lot of information on the STD forum.  Go to the archives.  The doctor there says that most sexually active people will be infected at some point and that usually it is just a minor annoyance.  Good luck!

[Alias Lola]

I'm glad you're feeling better!  Remember, most women -- something in the order of 80 percent -- get some form of HPV during their lifetime.  Most just never know it because their immune system keeps it in check or eventually eradicates the virus.  If you do have HPV, your immune system, too, will eventually develop mastery over it and it will be a thing of the past.

Good luck at the doctor!  And yes, keep me posted, hon!

[Smarie]

I have learned from researching on the internet that's its not always a good thing. Were not doctors and we tend to freak ourselves out, so let the doctor do his/her work! Believe me, my mother and boyfriend have constatnly told me this and I refused to listen, however I'm feeling a lot better and less stressed when I don't always read the "worse" on the internet:). Also, the doc told me 80% of women have some sort of HPV, so if that is the case, your normal. I have had HPV that causes abnormal cells and they freeze them and you go back for paps to make sure everything is okay. good luck!