Question for the medical workers here

[Guest]

Hello all...

Yesterday I went to the Dr. for a pap smear. I found out that at one of my previous pap smears (18 months ago) I tested positive for HPV (the virus that causes genital warts). I guess they never thought it was crucial to tell me this sooner... Anyway, throughout this last year and a half I have gotten three other paps... and all of them came out negative for the virus. I have never developed any warts, and none of the partners I have been with have ever said anything to me about that they have had it, or that I may have given them something (I am still in regular contact with all of them).

What does that mean? Could the first test have been wrong?

 

[teresafannin]

I am not a medical worker, but it is very possible that a pap test can be wrong, medical tests are not always right, that is why it is important to get a second opinion. Since you have never had a case of vaginal warts & none of your partners have, I would think the test was wrong. However, you should still be very careful & discuss everything with your doctor. Good luck.

 

[Oliver Clozoff]

I'm a 3rd year medical student and yes, medical tests can give what are called "false positives", i.e. a positive test result when the individual tested actually doesn't have the condition tested for.

The danger of HPV is not so much the genital warts (which are gross, but not dangerous), but in the fact that HPV causes cervical cancer. In fact, greater than 95% of women with cervical cancer have HPV infections and almost no one not infected with HPV gets cancer.

In light of the serious consequences of HPV, I'd continue to get frequent regular Paps to make sure the 1st test was just a fluke and you aren't developing cervical dysplasia, the early stage in the development of cervical cancer.

As far as your partners are concerned, HPV is often silent in men, which makes it dangerous to women because they can pass the virus to multiple women without knowing they have it. Just because they don't have visible warts doesn't mean they don't have it.

With 3 negative tests, I suspect you don't have it, but it never hurts to be vigilant. Make sure you keep getting your paps.

 

[Cyan BloodsBane]

Oliver Clozoff

Oliver Clozoff is very right... also the tesing that is done.. can be done in many different ways.. it all depends on what the doctor is asking for.. and how detailed that information as to be.

But the best thing to do is what Oliver Clozoff said get regular check ups.. but don;t go to the extreme. If 3 out 4 say no then its most likely no... One suggestion is to go to a STD clinic and ask for the HPV test or the cervical cancer test that way you know for certain for it is a very detailed report...

 

[Sammyjo]

I would be very careful. Since HPV can not be cured, I would think that you would have multiple readings of the positive nature. It is entirely possible that the first test was wrong. However, a reputable doctor will usually request a biopsy and colposcopy just to be positive.

This is sort of what I'm dealing with right now. I am awaiting test results to rule out cervical cancer. The first clinic didn't ask me to do any tests, just told me it was cancer...I went to another clinic where they checked me out, and since they found SOMETHING, they did a biopsy. Now it's just the waiting...

Just make sure you get your annual exam!!!

 

[Cyan BloodsBane]

You really don't need to do a biopsy a colposcopy(telescope)
is quite ok.... But it will also have to deal with many different findings.... biopsy are used way to much now to find a problem... when there are so many different solutions at hand now.

 

[Guest]

Thank you all so much! I am going to schedule an appt. at Planned Parenthood ASAP to find out for sure.

Just one other question, though. I've researched this a bit online and have read that more than 50% of women are infected with HPV and an even higher percentage of men... is this true?

 

[Earthgoddess]

I have HPV as does my hubby-I have never had a wart,nor had any of my partners. I was exposed 13 years ago and it was only diagnosed with a thin prep test last year. I have mild dysplasia, and am very concerned about developing cerviacl cancer. The statistics really do indicate that early detection is the best prevention. HPV is so prevelant that many doctor's aren't even testing for it unles there is an outbreak of warts. You can have the virus and never have it go into full wart production, often estrogenic rises tend to spur on the warts. Pregnancy has also been known to trigger outbreaks although it did not with my pregnancy 5 years ago.
My college boyfriend had a wart removed(it was a genital wart) and I was never told by the health center at school or by my GYN that I was exposing myself to an incurable virus. There are no ways to prevent it either-condoms do not work.
My husband insisted his urologist do the acetic acid test and they found a minute area that was a miniature wart. It only was visible during the acetic acid test.Trust me, I checked him over with a magnifying glass and was all set to pour vinegar on his penis-the midwife talked me down from that.
I had a colposcopy and am on a schedule of quarterly paps-waiting now for the results. My doctor has me on immune boosting herbal remedies and I take Thuya-a homeopathic for warts. I have had two clear paps since the colposcopy.
Feel free to email me with any questions.

 

[lickerish]

http://www.literotica.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=15682 Please visit, it's very informative. HPV, warts, cervical dysplasia/cancer are all very common.

 

[Earthgoddess]

Hey there tried to respond to your email-couldn't contact you-email me agin puhlease!!!