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hpv test results
Dear Doctor,I took a hpv dna test 3 weeks ago, after that i have read a lot in this forum and also in ashastd and cdc, I had no idea hpv was so comun,, and if I had read all of it before i wouldn't have done the test as I am a male and i have read a lot about no test being really approved for men ,, and I had no reason to believe I had hpv, but after reading that much,, I was made to the idea that I could have it as it is so comun and also I was made to the idea to not loose any sleep in case I had it, but well I received my results yesterday and I did loose my sleep and I am now very worried as I was not expecting this results,,, my results are that I am positive to 3 different virus,, I am positive to 16, 52b and 6, i was expecting maybe to have one,or to receive negative results as you always mention the test is not accurate
1. for what I understand 90% of cases the virus will resolve by it self with out any consequence,, but is this also true for high risk viruses? or this 90 is because low risk almost always goes away with out symptoms, but the porcentage is different for high risk virus?, are high risk as comun as low risk? do they also 90% of times dont cause any problem?
2 should I be more worried or take any special actions because I have this 3 different viruses?
3 is it comun to have more than one?
4 should my wife take any special precaution? or just keep her regular paps
5 is 52b anything to serious?
6 I read that even if left untreated only 1 in 4 cases that cause celular changes turns to cancer, is this true? and if treated how comun is it for this to turn to cancer?
I read and read not to worry , and how comun it is , and how it almost always resolves with out concecuence,, but my main question is what about my case and having 3 different,, what should i think or do about it.
Thanks Doctor
1. for what I understand 90% of cases the virus will resolve by it self with out any consequence,, but is this also true for high risk viruses? or this 90 is because low risk almost always goes away with out symptoms, but the porcentage is different for high risk virus?, are high risk as comun as low risk? do they also 90% of times dont cause any problem?
2 should I be more worried or take any special actions because I have this 3 different viruses?
3 is it comun to have more than one?
4 should my wife take any special precaution? or just keep her regular paps
5 is 52b anything to serious?
6 I read that even if left untreated only 1 in 4 cases that cause celular changes turns to cancer, is this true? and if treated how comun is it for this to turn to cancer?
I read and read not to worry , and how comun it is , and how it almost always resolves with out concecuence,, but my main question is what about my case and having 3 different,, what should i think or do about it.
Thanks Doctor
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
"Once the immune system has cleared the infection can I still be contagious?"
No. "Cleared" means the infection is gone. Sometimes it recurs and can cause new warts, abnormal pap smears, etc, and again can be transmitted. But usually these things don't happen.
"my doctor...told me I will have hpv for life and there is nothing I can do,, is it true?"
See this thread for a detailed discussion of HPV persistence, clearance, etc: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1137032
No. "Cleared" means the infection is gone. Sometimes it recurs and can cause new warts, abnormal pap smears, etc, and again can be transmitted. But usually these things don't happen.
"my doctor...told me I will have hpv for life and there is nothing I can do,, is it true?"
See this thread for a detailed discussion of HPV persistence, clearance, etc: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1137032
Thank you very much for your answer Doctor,,,I have 2 questions if I may , as I know I have asked a lot of questions already.
One I already asked but I think you might have skiped it,,,, Once the immune system has cleared the infection can I still be contagious?
And the other,, my doctor told me my results can be of a fairly new infection or a very old one as the test detect the dna and not the virus, he told me I will have hpv for life and there is nothing I can do,, is it true? can it be something old? i just read another answer in the forum in which the doctor mentions the same thing,, dna can stay and might be detected, so that would answer my question but also read that women can take the test after a while or after leep or crio and can test negative after having been positive,, so I dont really understand.
And if thats true with the test, I think you are right and should not test again, but in that case can i consider my immune system has taken care of the infection if I have no symptoms for around one to two years?
I think it was 3 questions and not 2.
Thank you Doctor
One I already asked but I think you might have skiped it,,,, Once the immune system has cleared the infection can I still be contagious?
And the other,, my doctor told me my results can be of a fairly new infection or a very old one as the test detect the dna and not the virus, he told me I will have hpv for life and there is nothing I can do,, is it true? can it be something old? i just read another answer in the forum in which the doctor mentions the same thing,, dna can stay and might be detected, so that would answer my question but also read that women can take the test after a while or after leep or crio and can test negative after having been positive,, so I dont really understand.
And if thats true with the test, I think you are right and should not test again, but in that case can i consider my immune system has taken care of the infection if I have no symptoms for around one to two years?
I think it was 3 questions and not 2.
Thank you Doctor
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
With proper management, nobody ever dies of cervical cancer due to HPV. The vast majority of cases are prevented by detecting abnormal cells by pap smear before they become cancerous; and even when cancer itself develops, it is many more years before it invades and becomes serious. Virtually all cases are cured before that happens.
I do not recommend circumcision as "treatment" for your HPV infection. Most likely nothing needs to be done, unless your doctor has already diagnosed pre-cancerous changes in the skin of your penis.
I do not recommend circumcision as "treatment" for your HPV infection. Most likely nothing needs to be done, unless your doctor has already diagnosed pre-cancerous changes in the skin of your penis.
sorry I meant not so strange, thanks
again thank you for your answer doctor, just a comment about my tests, I didnt really see the doctor put me anything when he took the test he just used the small brush.
And just 1 more questions as I don't want my mind to start with what ifs or anything like that,, you answerd my qiestion and it is very comforting to know about the very small chance of penile cancer or any drastic treatment,,, can you tell me about that same question but focusing in my wife , I mean for a woman, how treatable would cervical cancer be in the reomote case it got to that?
And should I consider I will always be contagious even in a couple of years in case I never develop any symptoms?
it was very good being albe to ask you and read your expert answers, as unfortunatly I am out of my country and wont be back for 20 days, and all the explanation I have gotten to this point from my doctor is an e mail that I am positive to 3 viruses,,, that there is no treatment apart from circumcision, which I already have and that my results seem very strange to him,,, thing that is not very comforting or explaining,, it is good to hear that it is really so strange, maybe even not strage at all
Thanks Doctor
And just 1 more questions as I don't want my mind to start with what ifs or anything like that,, you answerd my qiestion and it is very comforting to know about the very small chance of penile cancer or any drastic treatment,,, can you tell me about that same question but focusing in my wife , I mean for a woman, how treatable would cervical cancer be in the reomote case it got to that?
And should I consider I will always be contagious even in a couple of years in case I never develop any symptoms?
it was very good being albe to ask you and read your expert answers, as unfortunatly I am out of my country and wont be back for 20 days, and all the explanation I have gotten to this point from my doctor is an e mail that I am positive to 3 viruses,,, that there is no treatment apart from circumcision, which I already have and that my results seem very strange to him,,, thing that is not very comforting or explaining,, it is good to hear that it is really so strange, maybe even not strage at all
Thanks Doctor
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thank you for the additional information on your test sample. "Acetoblanca" is acetowhite in English -- it suggests your dermatologist applied acetic acid and saw some areas that he suspected had HPV.
And yes, it is "normal" for people to have HPV despite apparently low risk; and at least 80% of people are infected at one time or another. So yes, your situation is "normal". And you are exactly right: the ONLY difference between you and many other entirely healthy people is that you know of your HPV infection and they do not.
There is no downside in your wife having the HPV vaccine. However, at her age, I doubt it would do any good and I would not recommend it. In my previous reply, I didn't know how old she is. It is too late to protect her against the HPV strains you are carrying; you can be sure she already has been infected by them. (She might even be the source of your infection!)
I would guess the chance you'll have penile cancer someday at well under 1 chance in 10,000. And almost every case of penile cancer shows up as a minor wart-like spot on the penis that is easily cured; for the first appearance, it takes many years to become a serious problem. There is no chance you will die of penile cancer or that cure will require penile amputation or other drastic treatment.
Finally, I really don't recommend further testing to see if your HPV has cleared up. However, if you just can't stand not knowing, you could have another test. If so, I would wait at least a year. Talk with the dermatologist about it.
And yes, it is "normal" for people to have HPV despite apparently low risk; and at least 80% of people are infected at one time or another. So yes, your situation is "normal". And you are exactly right: the ONLY difference between you and many other entirely healthy people is that you know of your HPV infection and they do not.
There is no downside in your wife having the HPV vaccine. However, at her age, I doubt it would do any good and I would not recommend it. In my previous reply, I didn't know how old she is. It is too late to protect her against the HPV strains you are carrying; you can be sure she already has been infected by them. (She might even be the source of your infection!)
I would guess the chance you'll have penile cancer someday at well under 1 chance in 10,000. And almost every case of penile cancer shows up as a minor wart-like spot on the penis that is easily cured; for the first appearance, it takes many years to become a serious problem. There is no chance you will die of penile cancer or that cure will require penile amputation or other drastic treatment.
Finally, I really don't recommend further testing to see if your HPV has cleared up. However, if you just can't stand not knowing, you could have another test. If so, I would wait at least a year. Talk with the dermatologist about it.
sorry Doctor two doubts about your answers, you mention to consider Gardasil,, she is 40 , can she still consider it? in the remote case she does not have the 3 kinds that I have, it will still protect her right? and even though it is almost sure we share the same, it will still protect her from different kinds correct?so supposing we have the same it will protect her from other kinds, so is there a down side in her having the vaccine? in the remote case she does not have them it will protect her and if she has them nothing bad comes from geting it right?
And the other ,, I know chances of developing cancer are pretty small , I mean 1 in a couple of thousands is pretty small, but just to know,, even if developed it is treatable if you know on time right?
Thanks a lot again Doctor
And the other ,, I know chances of developing cancer are pretty small , I mean 1 in a couple of thousands is pretty small, but just to know,, even if developed it is treatable if you know on time right?
Thanks a lot again Doctor
Hello Doctor,
Thank you very much for your answer, with respect to the testing the doctor used like a very small round brush, he brushed my penis and introduced the brush in the tip.
As a mater of fact the results say 1. specimen... brushed 2. sample description.. patient with acetoblacas zones I don't know how to translate acetoblancas to english as my results are in spanish. then 3. is very long but starts like this,, we proceed to a celular lists,as well as desitegration of proteins etc etc.
Doctor I have gone to a lot of lap tops and masage parlors, I have kissed several girls and things but only have had intercourse with 2 different women in 20 years so thats why I really didnt expect this result.
In all the places you suggest to get informed I read about 80% of people will catch it one o maybe more than once in their lives,, and in your answers you always say that it is normal and that poeple should expect to get it once or more times in their lives,, so can I really assume that this is normal? and that the difference between me and the people next to me is that I took the test and I know? but that mainly most of the people will be in my situation at some point of their live? because I feel as if it was only me , and like if I was a walking virus
and one more thing, if my body clears it up should I be always worried in the future that I have it? I know you don't recomend the test, I knew it to late,, but now that I had one should I take another in the future to see if am cleared?
Thank you Doctor
Thank you very much for your answer, with respect to the testing the doctor used like a very small round brush, he brushed my penis and introduced the brush in the tip.
As a mater of fact the results say 1. specimen... brushed 2. sample description.. patient with acetoblacas zones I don't know how to translate acetoblancas to english as my results are in spanish. then 3. is very long but starts like this,, we proceed to a celular lists,as well as desitegration of proteins etc etc.
Doctor I have gone to a lot of lap tops and masage parlors, I have kissed several girls and things but only have had intercourse with 2 different women in 20 years so thats why I really didnt expect this result.
In all the places you suggest to get informed I read about 80% of people will catch it one o maybe more than once in their lives,, and in your answers you always say that it is normal and that poeple should expect to get it once or more times in their lives,, so can I really assume that this is normal? and that the difference between me and the people next to me is that I took the test and I know? but that mainly most of the people will be in my situation at some point of their live? because I feel as if it was only me , and like if I was a walking virus
and one more thing, if my body clears it up should I be always worried in the future that I have it? I know you don't recomend the test, I knew it to late,, but now that I had one should I take another in the future to see if am cleared?
Thank you Doctor
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the forum.
As you already realize, you are suffering the downsides of inappropriate testing for HPV. Knowing your test results is causing unnecessary anxiety, and in fact carries no benefit for your long term health or that of your sex partners.
Can you tell me more about exactly what specimen(s) were collected? Penile swab or other details? In the meantime, here are my responses to your specific questions:
1) 90+% of HPV infections are indeed cleared by the immune system. In women, the average time to clearance for the high risk types (e.g. HPV 16) is 1-2 years, compared with a year or less for lower risk types like HPV 6. I'm not aware of such studies for genital infection in men, but I would guess the situation is similar to that in women.
2) As long as you have sex with nobody but your wife, no special precautions are necessary. Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, which might help protect new or future partners from your HPV 6 and 16 infections.
3) Infection with multiple HPV types is very common.
4) Exactly right about your wife -- continue pap smears as recommended by her doctor, and keep alert for development of genital warts, but otherwise don't worry about it. The chance she'll have a serious health problem is low. She could consider Gardasil, but probably it wouldn't help; you can assume she is already sharing the same HPV strains that you have.
5) I think HPV 52 is a middle-risk type in relation to cancer risk -- but less risky than HPV 16.
6) Even with the highest risk HPV types, like HPV 16, the vast majority of infected people do not develop cancer -- certainly under a 1% chance, maybe less than 1 chance in a few thousand.
Do your best not to worry at all. The chance of any important health outcome, for either you or your wife, is very low.
Regards-- HHH, MD
As you already realize, you are suffering the downsides of inappropriate testing for HPV. Knowing your test results is causing unnecessary anxiety, and in fact carries no benefit for your long term health or that of your sex partners.
Can you tell me more about exactly what specimen(s) were collected? Penile swab or other details? In the meantime, here are my responses to your specific questions:
1) 90+% of HPV infections are indeed cleared by the immune system. In women, the average time to clearance for the high risk types (e.g. HPV 16) is 1-2 years, compared with a year or less for lower risk types like HPV 6. I'm not aware of such studies for genital infection in men, but I would guess the situation is similar to that in women.
2) As long as you have sex with nobody but your wife, no special precautions are necessary. Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, which might help protect new or future partners from your HPV 6 and 16 infections.
3) Infection with multiple HPV types is very common.
4) Exactly right about your wife -- continue pap smears as recommended by her doctor, and keep alert for development of genital warts, but otherwise don't worry about it. The chance she'll have a serious health problem is low. She could consider Gardasil, but probably it wouldn't help; you can assume she is already sharing the same HPV strains that you have.
5) I think HPV 52 is a middle-risk type in relation to cancer risk -- but less risky than HPV 16.
6) Even with the highest risk HPV types, like HPV 16, the vast majority of infected people do not develop cancer -- certainly under a 1% chance, maybe less than 1 chance in a few thousand.
Do your best not to worry at all. The chance of any important health outcome, for either you or your wife, is very low.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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