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HPV Questions
I'm surprised to find no discussions about HPV here. I am a 58 year old woman who was recently diagnosed with HPV-18, one of the two strains of HPV that can lead to cancer. Luckily my pap was clear so no problems yet. I have done lots of reading to get my questions answered, but I haven't found definitive answers to some of my questions. Experts talk about HPV being so common that the vast majority of adults will have it at some point, so it is not worth worrying about, but that advice seems problematic with HPV-16 and 18. Women can get regular testing along with pap smears to see if there are cellular changes but there isn't testing for men. My boyfriend is scared by the possibility of getting cancer, so he broke up with me. I can understand his reaction, although I think it is likely he gave it to me and/or that I have already transmitted it to him. So while many strains of HPV are "no big deal," HPV-18 is a very big deal to me. I have read repeatedly that HPV usually clears from the body within two years. Here are my questions: 1) If I find that my HPV-18 has cleared and I have negative results, does this mean that I won't transmit it to someone else? 2) Is it gone or just dormant, and I may have a recurrence? 3) Am I still more likely to develop cervical (or other) cancer? 4) What are my ethical obligations to tell a partner, both while I test positive and later if I test negative? I feel like this diagnosis means an end to my sexual life, as I wouldn't want to give this to anyone. And the kicker is that safe sex doesn't even prevent HPV transmission, as it is transmitted by skin contact. I hope someone can point me to peer-reviewed studies or other credible resources that answer my questions. Thanks.
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I have hpv also diabetes with it is that worse on the hpv ty Diana
betsyp, you are not alone. Anyone who is 50 and older is likely to have or be carriers for the HPV virus. Growing up, we had very little knowledge (if any) about it and there was no vaccine. The last stat I read, it said something like 88% of the population have been exposed. This virus can remain dormant in some people for decades and you will NEVER be able to know where you acquired it as the list of possibilities is massive unless both are virgins & have not had any sexual activities before having intercourse. The passage of this virus goes back to who did he or you have sex with, who all that person had sex with and who all those people had sex with & etc. This is true for Herpes Type 2 as well. Many are carriers and it can be dormant for a very long time.
You are correct about Types 16 and 18. Just continue to have your regular checkups. Men rarely have symptoms from HPV. Men of our generation and older have suddenly had a significant increase in head and neck cancers. Their age and the population's prevalence of HPV led researchers to the discovery that oral sex with someone + for HPV is the culprit.
As you mentioned, HPV clears for most like other viruses; however, if you have a chronic medical condition or are on meds that cause you to be immunosuppressed, likely, you will never clear it. Unfortunately, I am immunosuppressed, have HPV (Type HR-Other) and have been fighting it for many years.
When it comes to relationships, I think it is best to educate the partner of the prevalence. For contact, they can wash their hands post-sexual activities and wear a condom if he is concerned. I personally do not perform or receive oral sex due to transmission which puts both of us at increased risk for head and neck cancers. I understand that there are oral condoms, but I have not looked into such.
I too am just starting a new relationship. Most guys understand with education and continue the relationship, but some are really shallow and will not. They will just contract it in their next relationship with their next partner who does not know or opts to not disclose her HPV status.
It truly does suck and is always in the back of my mind. I hope this was a bit helpful.
You are NOT alone.
hello, i am 65 yrs old and my last test was positive for HPV , Ive always had great results with no issues with my paps all my life, I've had one partner in the last 20 years. would this mean my partner was unfaithful? or is there another way of contracting HPV thank you
I was just diagnosed in Aug with hpv at 51 years old. I'm devastated. I am so very careful by using protection and doing all the right things. I also have vulvodynia, which keeps me from having a normal and consistent sex life. My boyfriend of 6 1/2 years just left me in June because he was tired of me not being able to have regular sex and always being in physical pain and depression. I've had no partners since. My mental health is a disaster because with this latest diagnoses I know that my sex life is now over forever. Saying that I'm devastated is actually understating how I really feel. I've had two warts removed already since my diagnoses I have another near my anus that will require an actual surgery since it's in a precarious fold), two BV infections (which i also get regularly - and not even having sex!) and I woke up this morning, after two days of complete discomfort in a specific area, to find another wart. My insurance doesn't cover the surgery for wart removal and I'm now already $500 in medical debt. I can't afford to even pay my regular bills right now. I'm allergic to imiquimod so that's not an option. All the websites and even my doctors say it's not a big deal to have them. That's because they don't have them and have no idea how embarrassed and humiliated I am, as well as the pain and discomfort they are causing me all the time. It's consuming my every thought and affecting my quality of life. I can't go to the gym or the pool anymore because I'm so uncomfortable just walking. I am totally alone in this as I can't talk to anyone without shame and disclosure. I'm going to be alone for the rest of my life now. Who would want to be with someone who has a very contagious STD and I'm certainly not getting any younger. I just want to die. Somebody please tell me how to deal with this unwanted STI that I can't afford to have or have the mental capacity to deal with.
At 68 contracted HPV (don't know what number.. didn't know there were any #'s) but my gyno said.. you're gonna have to quit smoking.. for 2 years.. and it cleared..so if you smoke ..stop!! (I'm smoking again.. at 71 ..but have had alot of trauma.. like when I told my boyfriend.. he yelled at me all the way home and I called them who asked me to hold and they could hear him screaming and made me hang up.. they called to county sheriff..( her husband was a police officer in another county). as I sat on the couch with a double barrel sawed off shot gun an inch from my face gonna blow it off.. look at me.. 2nd time he said it ..I said just shot me.. then a bright white light filled the room and we heard the dogs outside barking and I got out to the gate.. no small feet.. about 1/2 block away ..we live out in the country. I kept saying "i can't hear you over the dogs.. and got up to the gate..him standing way behind and wispered .."don'ts let him back in there .he has the sawed off shot gun and my ruger with the 30 round clip.. plus 3 more clips..and says he will shot every on.. well back up wrecked.. and this poor new young man calmly managed the whole scene and I scaled the fence..and they finally got him to open the gate.. and he went to prison for 3 years..and game out ..a new man in Chrit Jesus!! His road to Domascus was longer than Saul/Paul..andhe has taken care of me.. while I have been so ill and loved me tenderly.. there is hope..always hope!!