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50 years old possible high risk HPV
I am 50-years old and have been married for 26 years. I had one sexual partner when I was 19 - a one night thing. My other sexual partner has been my husband. I have had regular Pap smears, none of which have been abnormal. I just had my yearly Pap and was just called and told that my Pap came back positive for high risk HPV. This is a new physician. They wanted to know if I had ever had an abnormal Pap and I told them I had not. She wants to see me back in three months to recheck me. My question is, how did I get this. I am unaware of any affair my husband has had. I really don't believe he has had one. Could it lie dormant for that many years. I don't know how many sexual partners he had prior to us being married, but I truly believe he has not had any since. Could it be a false positive? Or am I just naive?
HPV is a common sexually transmitted disease. Many people do not show any signs and symptoms at al. Others may suffer from genital warts or cervical cell changes. If symptoms such as genital warts are visible, though, avoid sexual activity entirely until the warts have cleared. This includes oral sex because HPV can also spread through mouth-to-genital contact. Try natural products such as Hyperisince mysorense, homeopathic nosodes and follow a healthy lifestyle to boost up your immune system.
I tested positive for high risk HPV after I had been married for 24 years. Talk about a discussion with my husband.....he has assured me over and over that he remains faithful to this day. I have had no other abnormal PAP's since 2004....I'm sorry that you had to go through this but I am glad to know that I am not alone.
For the virus to stay dormant for that many years, I'm not sure if it is possible. It could be something else. If you are still unsure, best for you to get a second opinion from another doctor. Don't worry.
I will try to call their office today to get things cleared up. Thank you for your response.
The nurse that called gave me no information other than I tested high risk for HPV. I was kind of shocked and at a loss for words on the phone and didn't ask any questions. I will call today and ask more questions. Thank you for your response. It does put me somewhat at ease. After discussing this with my husband, I am more assured that there has been no one else but me for 26+ years.
I’m sorry you had to go through this. The entire area of Paps, HPV and cervical cancer can be confusing. The Pap is a great test but it does have its limitations, there are false positives and false negatives—that is the reason a yearly test was good because over time abnormalities were found (cervical cancer is usually slow growing over 10-15 yrs or more). Now the guidelines have been changed to Pap testing every 2-3 years for the same reason. The HPV test on the US market right now has its own problems with inaccurate results due to cross reaction and specimen adequacy—It is not a test I really like. Both of these tests produce extreme anxiety in women when they are positive. It is possible that you are either perimenopausal (starts in late 40’s) and that could cause inflammatory changes that cause an abnormal Pap, or you are starting to enter menopause. The reason that I asked about your Pap is that there are changes in the cervix at this time that can cause a mildly abnormal Pap but it is normal for your age. There are also different results in different labs so the fact that you changed Dr.’s could be the lab the Pap was sent to has more sensitive testing—more sensitive does not mean better. Some of these sensitive tests pick up abnormalities that don’t mean anything. It is doubtful that you have had this for years. I would try to relax and I would find out what your Pap was. Was it normal with a positive HPV test? Was it ASCUS a very mild abnormality which means Atypical Cells of Undetermined Significance? You are not naïve; most women when told that they have high risk HPV, no matter what the age panic. I would not have a pap in 3 months but I would wait until at least 6 months—this appears to be just padding your Dr.’s pocket. If your next Pap is abnormal, before I would have a colposcopy I would ask the Dr. to prescribe an estrogen vaginal cream which usually clears the dryness and inflammation and is a common treatment in women your age. Usually Paps over the age of 50 are less likely to have dysplasia which is the pre curser to cancer. Hope this helps.
Hmm, this sounds interesting. Im leaning towards a false positive. Since you have a new physician, he might have mixed your results up. Just maybe.
I don't want to say that your husband has cheated on you but i never heard of a case that the hpv has been dormant for such a long time and then decided to appear. Please let us know what the doctor says, also, try calling and asking your doctor to look over the test results just to make sure its yours or that there was no mix up.
Did you have a normal Pap and tested positive for HPV or did you have an abnormal Pap and test positive for HPV? And do you know what the actual Pap was--there are different levels of abnormal.
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