Just got diagnosed with HPV; some questions

[Scaredidiot]

I just got diagnosed with HPV today by a doctor specializing in STD's. I'm still in a little shock right now, and my hands are a little numb thanks to the medication he gave me. I wanna know: How serious is this? I probably got it 6 days ago when I had protected anal sex with someone I didn't know that well even though she assured me that she was clean. Does this really stay with me forever? I'm seeing conflicting reports all over the internet about the virus; some say that it should clear up in two years if you take care of yourself, but other places are saying that you're pretty much stuck with it for life.

I don't know what's true anymore, really. I was totally ignorant about HPV and Genital warts before today, and when the doctor diagnosed me, he told me that it's just something that will go away after a few months and ever come back. But when I looked up HPV and read up on it; I realized that it's a virus that will stay with you for the rest of your life, and will never be cured. I just don't know anymore, really. I'm only 21 years old and I thought I had my whole life planned out in front of me, but this virus has now totally consumed me - I'm lost.

I'm just really desperate for help, and I hope someone with experience with the virus can shine some light on the matter. It would greatly be appreciated.

[ibizan]

Great and well read feedback to the others here....keep it up please!So glad u read the Doctors Forum and reccomend others to do it...i read it daily and have learned so much since my dx of high risk hpv almost 2 years ago.

[ScaredTeenNYC]

Hey, well i recently got diagnosed with HPV as well. Im only 17 about to b 18 so trust me i know exactly how you feel! but yeah i have a lot of questions and i was reallyy depressed and in shock for a long time as well. I just want u 2 noe dat im here if u need to talk even though i might not know any more about HPV than u do! im just hoping this shyt clears up!

[Scaredidiot]

oh, I forgot:

Can herpes be sometimes misdiagnosed as genital warts? I went for a check up because I was worried about herpes, but I found out I have genital warts instead.

Thanks again.

[Scaredidiot]

Thanks for the reply scotianguy.

The doctor is suggesting that I take laser surgery, but the two people I've talked to gave me conflicting information; the first one said that I should just treat it with anti-itchiness cream and see if it goes away on its own, while the other one said that I should definitely take laser surgery or else the warts would never go away and just stay with me.

Is this true? I'm really confused right now.

[scotianguy]

First, you probably didn't get it six days ago. Warts usually take months (or at least weeks) to show up.

The vast majority of people will clear the virus. Most docotors believe that once you are six months to two years wart free, you are no more likely to spread HPV than anybody else in the general public. While some people feel ethically obliged to disclose HPV to all future partners, many doctors suggest disclosure only in the 6 month to two year period after warts have dissapeared. Remember that in the absence of warts, there is no test for HPV.

Almost all sexually active people contract HPV at some point in their lives and their body clears it without problems. It really isn;t the end of the world. Treating your HPV is a responisble action. It is important to continue to be responsible and either abstain from sex while you might be contagious or disclose your infection before sexual activities. Don't believe everything you read on the internet and trust your doctor's expertise. The doctors who post on the expert forum here have great perspective on HPV and there are many threads dealing with this topic.