HPV?

[k4t]

Totally agree with all the advice - just have a pap smear. If you're unhappy with your gps technique consider visiting a sexual health clinic if there's one near you or even a Gynaecologist. In my experience the docs who do heaps of them are much less uncomfortable

[mummame]

I used to hate having pap smears done too, mainly because I felt embarassed, but after giving birth 3 times, I really don't care who has a look up there, feels like every man and his dog has had a look anyway Maybe instead of going to a GP for one, have a look and see if there is a pap smear clinic in your area. I know they have them in Perth. The nurses are really really good.

[willow5]

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.

I was reading up about HPV and pregnancy/delivery. The subject of c/s for mothers with HPV did come up. They said because the risk of transmission was low, and that most babies that contract the virus clear it themselves that the risk of the surgery to try to prevent it didn't outweigh the benefits. Although some OBs disagreed. This was even when the strain was one that can lead to cancer.
Apparently your normal pap test will alert the doctor to investigate for further HPV.

I was reading up when pg with my 3rd because a friends daughter developed genital warts when she was only 4 Pretty rare. She freaked thinking how she'd contracted warts, but the doctor said it was most likely through delivery. (There were no other signs physical, psychological or emotional pointing to any abuse.) My friend had never had any symptoms so didn't know she had it.

[~MummaBear~]

Thanks guys. I did actually plan ion having the smear done i was just worried that they might find something... stupid reason not to do it i know LOL I have had 5 pregnancies in the last 7 years so you can imagine there hasnt really been all that much time that i can have a smear done and with 4 small kids i just dont really think about "me" all that much. I will be getting it done, i know it is not painful and it id kinds uncomfortable to have some one do it but i know that it wouldnt be as bad as cervical cancer. I guess i just wanted to hear that my chances of finding anything abnormal would be very small iykwim

[LimeSlice]

Oh chick! Yes, the chances of finding anything wrong are small.

[willow5]

Oh bugger sorry if I freaked you out with my posts, that's so not what you were looking for and it could have come across as HPV is rampant and it'll get you no matter what! That's not what I was trying to say. I just didn't want you or anyone thinking you could only have an abnormal pap or cancer if you had HPV and had had only one or even no partners. so sorry It would be a small chance like Limeslice said.

Sorry again

[Ladylove]

As some others have said herpes (cold sores) and HPV (which can cause warts) are two entirely different things. They are not related. It is also worth keeping in mind that there is more than one strain of HPV. Some CAN cause warts, some CAN be linked to cervical abnormalities (including but not limited to cancer). I say 'can' because also as others have highlighted, HPV can lie dormant in the body and not do a thing ever. It is also not necessarily a sexually transmitted virus.

[RainbowBrite]

I had been with my exDH for 5 years and three kids when I had an abnormal pap smear, they watched it for 12 moths and it became cinIII (precancerous cells) and I had to get cervical treatment.
Neither of us had been sexually active outside the marriage in that time.
No matter how uncomfortable pap smears are worth getting, they caught mine early and it was relatively easy to deal with.

[Ladylove]

I've had two abnormal pap results which detected low-risk HPV strains but both times the HPV - or the abnormalities it caused- actually cleared itself up. Then I did the cervical cancer vaccinations although these only protect you from a couple of strains of HPV - the more dangerous ones. You really just need to bite the bullet and get the pap smear because it is too important to ignore.

[Fleur]

I actually understand the worry of finding anything making you reluctant (been there!). But obviously you know that it is better to have the smear. The by far most likely scenario is that nothing's worng, and you can put your mind at ease.

As an aside, I was diagnosed with HPV at my first smear, at 17 (incidentally while PG with my first baby). It did get to CIN 1 or 2, I can't remember, although it never needed treating. In all the years since I have never once been told it could be transmitted during delivery