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already have HPV- curious about what my doctor said
Hi everyone, and thank you in advance for your time. Despite three Gardasil shots, I was diagnosed 3 years ago with a high-risk strain of HPV. I had two procedures done two weeks apart by my gyno almost a year ago and everything is supposedly in the clear cancer-wise. What I'm curious about is something she said:
She told me that if I have one strain of HPV, that I'm essentially immune to any others. Now, the symptoms for my particular strain include a small breakout of white painless warts/ulcers on the inside of my vagina that disappear within a week... but recently I found some that aren't white and ARE painful (more like canker sores) underneath the hood. One or the other has happened maybe 3-4 times within the past 3 years. Usually lasts about a week then recedes, leaving no trace of anything. I have noticed, however, that when they DO tend to pop up, it's usually shortly after I've been sexually active, which raises some concerns for me. My questions are:
1). Is my doctor correct in reassuring me that having one strain, I'm immune to others?
2). After the contraction, do HPV symptoms (warts) show up *completely* randomly or can the timing sometimes depend on when you've had sex? Like, can having sex after a period of abstinence irritate or rile the virus symptoms back up?
3). If not, do gynecologists check for herpes when you get your annual checkup or do you have to ask for it specifically? I really don't think I've been with anyone who has that, but if my HPV concerns don't add up, I'd like to know what caused these bumps this past week as they look slightly different than the ones I saw 3 years and are actually painful/itchy this time.
4). Or can one HPV strain cause two different kinds of symptoms/warts?
This is all so confusing and frustrating to me, I would appreciate any and all feedback! Have a great day :)
She told me that if I have one strain of HPV, that I'm essentially immune to any others. Now, the symptoms for my particular strain include a small breakout of white painless warts/ulcers on the inside of my vagina that disappear within a week... but recently I found some that aren't white and ARE painful (more like canker sores) underneath the hood. One or the other has happened maybe 3-4 times within the past 3 years. Usually lasts about a week then recedes, leaving no trace of anything. I have noticed, however, that when they DO tend to pop up, it's usually shortly after I've been sexually active, which raises some concerns for me. My questions are:
1). Is my doctor correct in reassuring me that having one strain, I'm immune to others?
2). After the contraction, do HPV symptoms (warts) show up *completely* randomly or can the timing sometimes depend on when you've had sex? Like, can having sex after a period of abstinence irritate or rile the virus symptoms back up?
3). If not, do gynecologists check for herpes when you get your annual checkup or do you have to ask for it specifically? I really don't think I've been with anyone who has that, but if my HPV concerns don't add up, I'd like to know what caused these bumps this past week as they look slightly different than the ones I saw 3 years and are actually painful/itchy this time.
4). Or can one HPV strain cause two different kinds of symptoms/warts?
This is all so confusing and frustrating to me, I would appreciate any and all feedback! Have a great day :)
Thanks so much for the reply! Could you or someone point me in the direction of the doctor's forum? I'm so sorry to be a pain, I'm using this on my phone and it's a little difficult to navigate.
1). I hate to disagree with a doctor but that sounds nuts to me! Most people have multiple strains. How can anyone have multiple strains if having one strain makes you immune to the rest? Your doctor is wrong, IMO.
2). The act of sex itself lowers one's immune system because you are essentially exchaning bodily fluids and vigorously rubbing genital skin against genital skin. Safe sex would reduce the odds of repeat warts due to latex. Un-safe sex does not.
3). GYNs can check for herpes if asked. You can get one of the sores biopsied or you can get a blood test for herpes from any lab. Sexually active people probably have been exposed to Herpes and HPV.
4). No clue here but since most people have multiple strains of the virus, your symptoms can be multipe too.
Go post these question on the Doctor's Forum for better answers.
2). The act of sex itself lowers one's immune system because you are essentially exchaning bodily fluids and vigorously rubbing genital skin against genital skin. Safe sex would reduce the odds of repeat warts due to latex. Un-safe sex does not.
3). GYNs can check for herpes if asked. You can get one of the sores biopsied or you can get a blood test for herpes from any lab. Sexually active people probably have been exposed to Herpes and HPV.
4). No clue here but since most people have multiple strains of the virus, your symptoms can be multipe too.
Go post these question on the Doctor's Forum for better answers.
You are reading content posted in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
