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Condyloma Question
I was diagnosed with condyloma in October 2009, and treated with surgical excision. Unfortunately, I had a recurrence in early December 2009 and was again treated with surgical excision and given Aldara cream to use as prophylaxis. Recently, I had my annual gyne exam, and my gynecologist verified that she did not see any new lesions either. In an attempt to put my mind at ease over this whole ordeal, she agreed to run a HPV test that would also test for HPV types 6 and 11, (the results are not back yet). During the course of treatment for condyloma, I saw two different gynecologists who provided me with differing information which has caused a lot of confusion. My questions are as follows:
1. Please define what you mean by clearance. (I looked through the forums, I didn't see a definition).
2. I understand that the HPV virus will always be in my body, hopefully at undetectable levels. If 90% of people "clear" the virus within two years, does that mean that these people never again have to deal with active condyloma lesions?
3. One gynecologist told me that once this is under control, and I test negative for HPV 6 and 11 I should not worry about ever having condyloma again. Another gynecologist told me that condyloma can be a lifelong problem, and that testing negative for HPV 6 or 11 really wouldn't mean anything because they could still continue to reoccur. Please comment.
4. I understand that RRP is very rare, but it is a concern because I would like to start a family in the next year or so. Can RRP only be transmitted to a baby if there are active lesions, or if there's ever been a history of condyloma, but no current lesions?
Thank you in advance for your time and expertise.
1. Please define what you mean by clearance. (I looked through the forums, I didn't see a definition).
2. I understand that the HPV virus will always be in my body, hopefully at undetectable levels. If 90% of people "clear" the virus within two years, does that mean that these people never again have to deal with active condyloma lesions?
3. One gynecologist told me that once this is under control, and I test negative for HPV 6 and 11 I should not worry about ever having condyloma again. Another gynecologist told me that condyloma can be a lifelong problem, and that testing negative for HPV 6 or 11 really wouldn't mean anything because they could still continue to reoccur. Please comment.
4. I understand that RRP is very rare, but it is a concern because I would like to start a family in the next year or so. Can RRP only be transmitted to a baby if there are active lesions, or if there's ever been a history of condyloma, but no current lesions?
Thank you in advance for your time and expertise.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello
I've repeated the questions beneath and I'll try and address these as we go through:-
1. Please define what you mean by clearance. (I looked through the forums, I didn't see a definition).
Clearance just means clearing the visible lesions from the affected areas.
2. I understand that the HPV virus will always be in my body, hopefully at undetectable levels. If 90% of people "clear" the virus within two years, does that mean that these people never again have to deal with active condyloma lesions?
You've got a fundamental misunderstanding here. HPV is "on" the body, not "in" it. The vast majority of sexually active adults will acquire some form of HPV at some point in their lives - over 90%. Of the 90% of us who have HPV on the genital skin, less than 1% (of the 90%) will develop either HPV related cancers or precancers or visible warts. The HPV subtypes that cause visible warts do not cause cancers. The cancer forming HPV subtypes will not always cause cancers. You are right to wonder about future immunity. It does seem that having had true infection with HPV and the recovered from it, a good number of people will be immune to acquiring that subtype again. However, there are greater than 100 subtypes so the chances are high of acquiring a further but different strains.
3. One gynecologist told me that once this is under control, and I test negative for HPV 6 and 11 I should not worry about ever having condyloma again. Another gynecologist told me that condyloma can be a lifelong problem, and that testing negative for HPV 6 or 11 really wouldn't mean anything because they could still continue to reoccur. Please comment.
I agree with Gynae 2 I'm afraid - as per the answers to question 2 above.
4. I understand that RRP is very rare, but it is a concern because I would like to start a family in the next year or so. Can RRP only be transmitted to a baby if there are active lesions, or if there's ever been a history of condyloma, but no current lesions?
I'm afraid this is a question no-one can answer except to say that the rate of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis RRP is higher in children but it does occur in adults - 4.5 per 100,000 childrens and 2 per 100,000 adults. There are risks to everything and RRP is very very rare.
I hope that helps a little.
best wishes, Sean
I've repeated the questions beneath and I'll try and address these as we go through:-
1. Please define what you mean by clearance. (I looked through the forums, I didn't see a definition).
Clearance just means clearing the visible lesions from the affected areas.
2. I understand that the HPV virus will always be in my body, hopefully at undetectable levels. If 90% of people "clear" the virus within two years, does that mean that these people never again have to deal with active condyloma lesions?
You've got a fundamental misunderstanding here. HPV is "on" the body, not "in" it. The vast majority of sexually active adults will acquire some form of HPV at some point in their lives - over 90%. Of the 90% of us who have HPV on the genital skin, less than 1% (of the 90%) will develop either HPV related cancers or precancers or visible warts. The HPV subtypes that cause visible warts do not cause cancers. The cancer forming HPV subtypes will not always cause cancers. You are right to wonder about future immunity. It does seem that having had true infection with HPV and the recovered from it, a good number of people will be immune to acquiring that subtype again. However, there are greater than 100 subtypes so the chances are high of acquiring a further but different strains.
3. One gynecologist told me that once this is under control, and I test negative for HPV 6 and 11 I should not worry about ever having condyloma again. Another gynecologist told me that condyloma can be a lifelong problem, and that testing negative for HPV 6 or 11 really wouldn't mean anything because they could still continue to reoccur. Please comment.
I agree with Gynae 2 I'm afraid - as per the answers to question 2 above.
4. I understand that RRP is very rare, but it is a concern because I would like to start a family in the next year or so. Can RRP only be transmitted to a baby if there are active lesions, or if there's ever been a history of condyloma, but no current lesions?
I'm afraid this is a question no-one can answer except to say that the rate of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis RRP is higher in children but it does occur in adults - 4.5 per 100,000 childrens and 2 per 100,000 adults. There are risks to everything and RRP is very very rare.
I hope that helps a little.
best wishes, Sean
Sorry, I didn't realize at the time that this is the international forum. If you're unable to answer this, would you be able to move this to the regular STD forum? Thanks!
You are reading content posted in the STDs - International Forum
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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.
