will it go away?

[rojas66]

first, i need to make a comment.  i've read a few old posts stating that hpv doesn't cause itching.  from what i understand, that's not necessarily true.

i'm a 42 year old woman who, up until recently, had only been mildly affected by hpv in the form of abnormal pap smears that have resoved over time.  in august 2008 i was diagnosed with VIN 3 (vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia high grade), which is severe precancerous changes on my vulvar skin.  it's been likened to changes that happen on the cervix, but it's on the outside; and it can go unnoticed to the naked eye.  a vulvoscopy (like a colposcopy) is required to see all of the affected areas.  i understand this is relatively rare, but like cervical changes, it's largely caused by HPV.  over and over again i read that commonly one of the symptoms is mild to severe itching.  in my instance, the itching can range from mild TO severe, or none at all.  doctors don't commonly evaluate for vulvar hpv unless there is something visible to the naked eye.  as a result of this diagnosis, i've been seeing a gynecological oncologist, have had one surgical procedure last september to remove the areas (long healing process and 2 months of abstinence from sex - but that's another story).  and now it's back, only 6 to 7 months later.  i'm seeing the oncologist again this week.

anyway, mostly that was to make a comment about itching.  but, until this happened to me, i was completely unaware that it could.  women should know about this.

my question is, because it's difficult for me to wait for answers, is there a chance that this vulvar hpv infection will resolve, or will i be running from cancer for years to come?

[rojas66]

i was infected almost 3 years ago, i've only had one outbreak since then.  i had six negative herpeselect tests over a period of almost a year, and honestly believed that they made a mistake at the lab.  i even saw an immunologist who said the culture was a false positive based on the negative blood tets.  finally i had that blood test done with i think university of washington, and it came back positive for type 1.  in february i had an outbreak, which i made a point of having cultured, and it was positive.  so, i don't have frequent infections.  but the first one was a doozy.  i think that changed everything.  i don't really need that forum.  i visited there during the first year, but now i've sort of moved on i guess, aside from all the garbage that's going on now.  i have a wonderful boyfriend of a year and a half.  i just hope and pray that it all settles down.

[kdaily]

I'm sooooo sorry for that !! its not fair, although you may be right you're immune system could be lower due to the herpes infection therefore reactivating your HPV... although the doctors say it is rare for it to reoccur once cleared for years it can still happen... Are you doing any better?? there is a great Herpes forum in which they can help you with any questions regarding herpes Grace is great there.

[rojas66]

thanks.  i have a very healthy lifestyle.  exercise regularly, hoping to run a half marathon soon, weights, vitamins, healthy diet.  my gyne doesn't understand why it's coming back, and so fast.  maybe the oncologist will be able to tell me something.  vulvar dysplasia is rare from what i understand, and there is a high rate of recurrence with this.  why it's happening to me, when i've cleared it for years up til now, i don't know.  i do wonder about this though...  i was given herpes, despite protection, by a new partner who didn't disclose his herpes status to me until i had symptoms and asked him.  we had sex once.  i had this weird reaction, it didn't look like herpes, and it was absolutely horrific.  it was systemic too.  bumps, like fly bites, in places like my ankle, armpit, chest, etc.  october, so not mosquitos.  i think i had a severe immune reaction to it, and i wonder if it changed the environment down there to where i'm more vulnerable.  i know that sounds weird, but since that happened to me it's been one problem after another with my vulva.  i was even diagnosed with lichen sclerosis, though i question this.  but, it was fragile down there and the skin was tearing.  i had no problems like this before the herpes exposure.  i hate that guy for lying to me.

[kdaily]

It can resolve on its own but it depends on the immune system, I'm 25 and 7 months found out I had HPV and went for my follow up and every thing cleared up in 7 months... That being said I take vitamins, exercise daily and eat extremely healthy... you can do the same and increase the chances of it going away.

With you being a little bit older your immune system may effect the chances of resolving on its own... but in studies they show the most cases will clear up in 2 years at the most and i'm sure that is with a wide range of younger and older generation... But you can have the cells removed by your doctor.

Also, You are right in a sense of the itching but at the same time it is not clinically proven that HPV causes itching... ( but I too noticed a change down there once i was diagnosed)