HPV?

[~MummaBear~]

Hey i think this is the right place to put this...
If i have only ever had sex with my husband and he has only ever had sex with me does that mean that i couldnt have been exposed to HPV?

[LionsandBears]

Probably.

HPV is transmitted skin to skin, through oral, vaginal or oral sex. Possibly if there's been heavy petting previously, that may do it. Very rarely, HPV can be passed during birth, from mother to baby.

[peanutter]

I wouldn't have thought so, but I was told by a friend that she tested positive to HPV, and (as she and her DP have never had any sexual partners of any variety than each other) her Dr suggested that it might be from a combination of cold sores plus oral sex ... cold sores are apparently another version of HPV.

No idea whether that is possible, but worth checking ...?

[LionsandBears]

Cold sores are a form of herpes. Oral sex with cold sores could lead to genital herpes. Herpes and HPV are completely different things.

[willow5]

HPV can be passed from mother to baby. So Even if you are a virgin you could still have a strain of HPV.
Cold sores are a Herpes virus, which I thought was different to HPV(Human Papilloma Virus? Warts being different to cold sores.

[willow5]

LionsandBears we must've posted at the same time

[peanutter]

that's what I thought so too, but her Dr said otherwise ... I thought maybe there's a relationship between the two I wasn't aware of ...?

[k4t]

As others have said HPV (wart virus) and HSV (herpes/cold sore virus) are different but both can be passed on by non-sexual contact (including birth) and both can have no visible (or obvious) symptoms so it's not impossible for you to have them (although much less likely than if you'd had lots of sexual partners.) Also, there are lots of different strains of HPV and some are more likely to cause visible warts than others. I hope that helps. Is there something in particular that you're worried about?

[~MummaBear~]

I was kind of worried that i havent had a pap smear in a while and really dont fancy having one anytime soon i know that neither my DH or i have had any kind of sexual contact with anyone else so i thought i might be able to stop freaking out about how long its been since my last pap smear

[LimeSlice]

HPV is NOT the only 'cause' of cervical cancer, therefore its presence, or lack of, in your body is no reason dismiss having a pap smear.

Is there a particular reason you don't want to have a smear done?

[Mildez]

HPV is NOT the only 'cause' of cervical cancer, therefore its presence, or lack of, in your body is no reason dismiss having a pap smear.

Is there a particular reason you don't want to have a smear done?

Totally agree.

I actually haven't heard that HPV can be passed to a baby by its mother. If that were the case or a high risk you would think a C/S maybe the best option for delivery (provided the risk was during a vaginal birth) If certain strains of HPV cause cervical cancer and there is a risk babies can get it you would think then you would be looking at children or young adults been at risk even before they are sexually active.

[Mumma T]

Please just get the pap done if it is just that you don't ike having them done. My old gp didn't advise me I had an abnormal smear with hpv and cin I. I got a letter from the cervical register "reminding" me and let's just say that scared the living day lights out of me. We had been ttc for 6 months already, another abnormal pap then I had to have my cervix checked for precancerous cells. I was lucky and am all clear but it's not worth risking. Cervical cancer can be beaten if found early, and really a pap is much nicer than the other tests.

[willow5]

I actually haven't heard that HPV can be passed to a baby by its mother. If that were the case or a high risk you would think a C/S maybe the best option for delivery (provided the risk was during a vaginal birth) If certain strains of HPV cause cervical cancer and there is a risk babies can get it you would think then you would be looking at children or young adults been at risk even before they are sexually active.

A person can have HPV their whole life with absolutely no symptoms at all, and, not end up with cancer. I think you'd be surprised at the number of people that do have HPV if everyone were to be tested, and from a young age before any sexual contact. You would need to give nearly every birthing mother a c/s section to avoid passing on HPV to their babies. I really don't think that would be a good reason to have major surgery with a risk of complications and a whole lot of other disadvantages for mum and baby.
Not all strains of HPV lead to cancer either.

[willow5]

HPV aside OP, it's probably a good idea to have the smear. Like Limeslice said, HPV is not the only cause of cervical cancer. They are not pleasant but better that than something much worse.

[Mildez]

A person can have HPV their whole life with absolutely no symptoms at all, and, not end up with cancer. I think you'd be surprised at the number of people that do have HPV if everyone were to be tested, and from a young age before any sexual contact. You would need to give nearly every birthing mother a c/s section to avoid passing on HPV to their babies. I really don't think that would be a good reason to have major surgery with a risk of complications and a whole lot of other disadvantages for mum and baby.
Not all strains of HPV lead to cancer either.

Yes I am aware of how common it is (and thats just the visual ones) as I work as a midwife. The thing is if it were really passed on during vaginal birth and it was one of the strains that causes cancer (I think there are only about 4 nasty strains that are responsible for the cervical cancer which is not many considering how many strains there are) then potentially you would be looking at young girls carry HPV and been at risk of cancer well before they are even at an age where they would be sexually active or able to have a papsmear. I was just saying I hadn't even heard about it been passed on like that although obviously it could be transmitted in the household by other means. If it truely was a risk then there would be some type of testing I would have thought to make sure women whom have a strain that causes cancer would not pass it on during birth (if that was a way you could get it). I certainly haven't heard of really young girls having HPV that affects the genitals before sexual contact.

[Marley&Me]

I had HPV with my first ever pap test. It stayed with me for a few years and I had to get a coloscopy(sp?) and a biopsy done. If it didn't go by the next pap test I was looking at having laser surgery to blast off the abnormal cells, but it just disappeared. I think I got to CIN 2? Not sure.....

Compared to all the crud involved with LTTC, a pap test is nothing!
If you are finding it very uncomfortable, maybe change doctors. I always thought they were fairly uncomfortable until I visited my DH GP clinic and saw a lady doc there and I barely felt it, to the point where i didn't actually think she had opened the thingy they use (not sure what it's called) Just goes to show that there is no reason for unnecessary stretching whilst performing a pap test!

[nothing2lose]

Put it this way, a pap smear is way, way more comfortable than cervical cancer.

You owe it to both yourself and your kids to get it done ASAP!!!

[LimeSlice]

If you are finding it very uncomfortable, maybe change doctors. I always thought they were fairly uncomfortable until I visited my DH GP clinic and saw a lady doc there and I barely felt it, to the point where i didn't actually think she had opened the thingy they use (not sure what it's called) Just goes to show that there is no reason for unnecessary stretching whilst performing a pap test!

Yep, totally!

If you find the pap so physically uncomfortable you are dreading having it done, then find another doctor, they are doing it wrong. You should barely be able to feel it with an experienced and gentle practitioner.
If the thought of someone - anyone - giving you the smear is freaking you out, then go with a girl friend and discuss your fears/modesties with your doctor so you can work through them. Having a smear once every 2 years could be the difference between finding precancerous cells and finding full blown cervical cancer.