Apparently, Dr. D's office called on 11/19 (for which I didn't get the message until this past weekend when I cleaned out the old messages - Hubby never deletes old messages off the machine!) regarding my PAP test from my mid-October.
The PAP was normal, thank goodness.
However, the nurse mentioned I tested positive for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Uh, how???
I mean, I know how HPV is transmitted. But, does anyone know how long this could lie dormant and undetected? It has never come up in a PAP before - and, well, the only other person I had "been with" was back in 1995 (and protection was used).
...And, Hubby and I just celebrated 10 years of marriage in October, KWIM??...
How is this possible NOW??
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
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12 comments:
Oy--I'm going to ask a friend who tested positive. I am fairly certain her partner tested negative therefore, there must be other ways to pass the virus.
My recommendation is to do another pap. Labs are notorious for switching peoples lab work, thus you getting incorrect results.
If you get a second pap with the same results, then you know that the results were correct.
As far as how you could get this, well, I'd suggest speaking with your doctor to see if he can give any clues, especially since you have been in a monogomous relationship for so long.
This same thing happened to me. It can be dormant for a long long time. I never had it diagnosed until I was 31. My doctor says it usually clears up on its own but can come back. I had to get a PAP every 6 months until my tests came back normal twice in a row. which took 2 years for me. I have not had any recurrence since.
It is very common. My doctor said it probably happened when I was a teenager.
Hope that helped a little.
Oh, wow, I am so sorry you are going through this. My response was getting a little long so I have emailed it to you. I hope you are able to resolve this soon.
I had no idea it could be dormant for years, like this.
Praying you get another pap and it comes back clear.
HUGS!
I was in your same situation. One other partner, with protection, monogamous with DH for years. Got a positive HPV and some dysplasia for an added bonus. The doctor said it can be dormant for years - in either partner. Not sure if I believe her, but she also said she had a 75 year old patient who had a +HPV, out of nowhere. If you have some sort of immune suppressing event (like, um, pregnancy), the HPV can rear its ugly head and let you know it's there. I had to get repeat paps every 3 months for over a year. I also got to enjoy a colposcopy, and some liquid nitrogen on my cervix. But, it took almost a year after giving birth for my immune system to revert to normal. So, not terribly scary, your husband is not out sampling, just keep an eye on things. Good luck.
HPV is almost ubiquitous- i.e. just about everybody has been exposed, many partners or not. And it's usually completely silent, so nobody knows they've been exposed.
FWIW- I don't think they used to test for HPV infection with paps purely because the link between HPV and dysplasia and malignancy ( in a small subset of women) has only recently been established.
J
(from LFCA)
I agree with Michelle. I had it show up out of the blue (granted I hadn't been in a monogomous relationship even 1/2 the time that you had). My OB/Gyn explained that it can lay dormant for a vvvvery long time. She also said it can go away and come back. If it makes you feel better, definitely talk to your doctor about it!
I'm glad that you didn't have any dysplasia, though. I had moderate dysplasia from the HPV and had to have a colposcopy with return visits every 3 months for a year or until I had 2 clear paps (whichever came last).
I am not sure but my mom who hasnt been with anyone in oh I dunno 35 years and my friend who hasnt been with anyone in over 10 years both tested positive recently.
I hope you get the answers you are looking for.
Just checking in, sweetie. Hoping you had a merry Christmas and that things are going okay.
WOW great Blog
autoimmune disease were also rearing their ugly head as well and likely you own hyperactive and inefficient immune system couldn't keep it in check any longer. Having been in a similr boat thatsmy take on it. you can ask a doc that you trust who will ponder what you are saying.and then decide if it "fits"
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