Just to say that WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV) WHICH IS NOT RELATED TO HERPES AND THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS “HERPHES”
Thank you.
I was gonna say… Thanks for correcting him, JillGat.
Having had a scare about this myself recently (one doctors thinks I have it, one doesn’t, I’m still waiting for a pap smear) I’ve come to the conclusion that there are more serious things to worry about.
I was told that an estimated 50% of sexually active women have HPV, and since women are supposed to get pap smears all the time anyway, there’s really not that much to do or worry about. The threat of cervical cancer is, of course, scary, but so much causes cancer these days.
This is totally not to make light of the situation, it’s to make your girlfriend feel better.
(My situation was also complicated by possible tracings of where my boyfriend got it from)
Human Papillomavirus and Genital Warts:
"Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of sexually
transmitted disease (STD) in the world. Experts estimate that as many as
24 million Americans are infected with HPV, and the frequency of infection
and disease appears to be increasing. More than 60 types of HPV have
been identified by scientists. Some types of the virus cause common skin
warts.
Genital warts (condylomata acuminata or venereal warts) are caused by only
a few of the many types of HPV.
In women, the warts occur on the outside and inside of the vagina, on the
cervix (the opening to the uterus), or around the anus. In men, genital warts
are less common."Have your girlfriend find out from her doctor what type HPV she has. There are high-risk and low-risk strains and the difference is important. The high-risk ones are associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer. The top 5 high-risk strains (HPV 16,18,31,33,35) have been detected in 70% of cervical cancers. Don’t worry if her doctor didn’t have them typed. As was stated above, you can get rid of the warts but not the virus. There’ll be more. Here is a breakdown of risk by type.
Low Risk (Never been found in tumors) HPV 6,11,42,43,44
Intermediate to High Risk HPV 31,33,35,45,51,52,56
High Risk HPV 16,18
Let me know if I can be of any other help.
(Source: Mayo Medical Labs Interpretive Handbook, 1997)
-LabRat
HPV, that is, not the warts.
Had an abnormal pap about 2 years ago, after my son was born. Flipped me right out, considering that in the 16 years I’d been getting paps, I’d never had an abnormal one.
My doctor diagnosed HPV. I had a really minor operation to have the bad cells removed, and no trouble since then.
The doctor also told me that she had no idea where I’d picked it up. I could have gotten it from my husband, I could have gotten it from a long-ago sexual partner. The immune system, when healthy, does a good job of suppressing any symptoms. Mine was a little tired, to say the least. After five pregnancies, three of them full term, I think my cervix was saying “hey, I’ve had it. Give me a rest, okay?”
I’ve had a few paps since then, and all of them have come back normal, thank goodness. But I’ve also told my doctor not to pull any punches with me. I’ll do what I need to do, including a hysterectomy. HPV can lead to cancer, and Goddess knows I do not want that. My uterus has served it’s intended purpose, and if it’s got to go, it’s got to go.
Best of luck to you and your SO, aoty!
aoty, just curious, but did your girlfriend talk to her previous partners yet about her condition or does she plan to?
You’re right, Jill that there isn’t anything called ‘herphes’ it was just a typo & remembering all the herpes/ HPV numbers & which is which is tricky for me.
I agree it’s not something to get too wound up about. But it should definitely bring home to all the women out there (and any man who has a woman they care about) that annual exams are important! Not just because you need the PAP smear for problems like this, but also for other types of cancers/conditions that can be treatable with early detection, but fatal without treatment.
One of my number one bitches about this is that women tend to stop going to the doctor when they don’t need birth control anymore and as your age increases, so does your risk for all sorts of cancers of the reproductive system. Dammit, prenancies and preventing pregnancies are not the only reason for going to the gynecologist!!!
It seems where ever you turn ‘they’ say just use a condom and you will be OK. ‘They’ don’t seem to be so open and honest in saying that a condom will not protect you from HPV.
I think it takes years to develope HPV symtom’s after exposure. I would say there is a very good chance that you are now a carrier.
But that’s just my humble O
Good luck to both of you.