do i recently found out i have hpv, and i decieded to tell this guy im (was, i dont know) dating because i thought it was important, and now it seems like he's just a little bit more concious about being with me, like he doesn't wanna touch me at all. and i have tried to talk to him about it and share with him what i know but i think he just won't listen plus i think he wants to start a family of his own soon. but i was just wondering if i should've told him and that if in the future should i tell my partner and really how can i live with this? does anyone know about hpv at all? If memory serves HPV causes little side affects in guys with the exception of warts, but it's far more dangerous to women as it's a major cause of cervical cancer.
I just took a quick peruse on Wikipedia (yes i know it's horrible for actual facts) but i found that about 25% of women will have a strain of HPV in their life.
So to answer your original question yeah I'd be more careful (a condom is definitely in order) but I'd still date a girl with HPV. (heck i probably have)
Lastly it sounds like you don't know all the facts of HPV might i suggest a google search? The CDC is mostly likely a good place to check out Yeah - it's not that much of a big deal. The infection often gets cleared in time.
Genital warts are ugly though.
If there are warts present, use safe sex. What are human papillomaviruses, and how are they transmitted?
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are a group of more than 100 viruses. They are called papillomaviruses because certain types may cause warts, or papillomas, which are benign (noncancerous) tumors. The HPVs that cause the common warts which grow on hands and feet are different from those that cause growths in the throat or genital area. Some types of HPV are associated with certain types of cancer (1). These are called 鈥渉igh-risk鈥?oncogenic or carcinogenic HPVs.
Of the more than 100 types of HPV, over 30 types can be passed from one person to another through sexual contact. Although HPVs are usually transmitted sexually, doctors cannot say for certain when infection occurred. Most HPV infections occur without any symptoms and go away without any treatment over the course of a few years. However, HPV infection sometimes persists for many years, with or without causing cell abnormalities.
What are genital warts?
Some types of HPV may cause warts to appear on or around the genitals or anus. Genital warts (technically known as condylomata acuminatum) are most commonly associated with two HPV types, HPV鈥? and HPV鈥?1. Warts may appear within several weeks after sexual contact with a person who is infected with HPV, or they may take months or years to appear, or they may never appear. HPVs may also cause flat, abnormal growths in the genital area and on the cervix (the lower part of the uterus that extends into the vagina). However, HPV infections usually do not cause any symptoms.
What is the association between HPV infection and cancer?
HPVs are now recognized as the major cause of cervical cancer. In 2006, an estimated 10,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with this type of cancer and nearly 4,000 will die from it. Cervical cancer strikes nearly half a million women each year worldwide, claiming a quarter of a million lives. Studies also suggest that HPVs may play a role in cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, and some cancers of the oropharynx (the middle part of the throat that includes the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils) (1). Data from several studies also suggest that infection with HPV is a risk factor for penile cancer (cancer of the penis).
Are there specific types of HPV that are associated with cancer?
Some types of HPV are referred to as 鈥渓ow-risk鈥?viruses because they rarely develop into cancer. HPV types that are more likely to lead to the development of cancer are referred to as 鈥渉igh-risk.鈥?Both high-risk and low-risk types of HPV can cause the growth of abnormal cells, but generally only the high-risk types of HPV may lead to cancer. Sexually transmitted, high-risk HPVs include types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 69, and possibly a few others. These high-risk types of HPV cause growths that are usually flat and nearly invisible, as compared with the warts caused by types HPV鈥? and HPV鈥?1. It is important to note, however, that the majority of high-risk HPV infections go away on their own and do not cause cancer (2).
What are the risk factors for HPV infection and cervical cancer?
Having many sexual partners is a risk factor for HPV infection. Although most HPV infections go away on their own without causing any type of abnormality, infection with high-risk HPV types increases the chance that mild abnormalities will progress to more severe abnormalities or cervical cancer. Still, of the women who do develop abnormal cell changes with high-risk types of HPV, only a small percentage would develop cervical cancer if the abnormal cells were not removed. Studies suggest that whether a woman develops cervical cancer depends on a variety of factors acting together with high-risk HPVs. The factors that may increase the risk of cervical cancer in women with HPV infection include smoking and having many children (3).
Can HPV infection be prevented?
The surest way to eliminate risk for genital HPV infection is to refrain from any genital contact with another individual.
For those who choose to be sexually active, a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner is the strategy most likely to prevent genital HPV infection. However, it is difficult to determine whether a partner who has been sexually active in the past is currently infected.
HPV infection can occur in both male and female genital areas that are covered or protected by a latex condom, as well as in areas that are not covered. Although the effect of condoms in preventing HPV infection is unknown, condom use has been associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer.
Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a vaccine that is highly effective in preventing infection with types 16 and 18, two 鈥渉igh-risk鈥?HPVs that cause most (70 percent) cervical cancers, and types 6 and 11, which cause most (90 percent) genital warts (4).
How are HPV infections detected?
Testing samples of cervical cells is an effective way to identify high-risk types of HPV that may be present. The FDA has approved an HPV test as a follow-up for women who have an ambiguous Pap test (a screening test to detect cervical cell changes and, for women over the age of 30, for general cervical cancer screening). This HPV test can identify 13 of the high-risk types of HPV associated with the development of cervical cancer. This test, which looks for viral DNA, is performed by collecting cells from the cervix and then sending them to a laboratory for analysis. The test can detect high-risk types of HPV even before there are any conclusive visible changes to the cervical cells. There are currently no tests approved to detect HPV infection in men.
How are cervical cell abnormalities classified?
A Pap test is used to detect abnormal cells in the cervix. It involves the collection of cells from the cervix for examination under the microscope. Various terms have been used to describe the abnormal cells that may be seen in Pap tests.
The major system used to report the results of Pap tests in the United States is the Bethesda System. In this system, samples with cell abnormalities are divided into the following categories:
ASC鈥擜typical Squamous Cells. Squamous cells are the thin, flat cells that form the surface of the cervix. The Bethesda System divides this category into two groups:
ASC鈥揢S鈥擜typical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance. The squamous cells do not appear completely normal, but doctors are uncertain what the cell changes mean. Sometimes the changes are related to HPV infection. An HPV test may be done to clarify the findings.
ASC鈥揌鈥擜typical Squamous Cells cannot exclude a High-grade squamous intraepithelial abnormality. Intraepithelial refers to the layer of cells that forms the surface of the cervix. The cells do not appear normal, but doctors are uncertain what the cell changes mean. ASC鈥揌 may indicate a higher risk of being precancerous compared with ASC鈥揢S.
AGC 鈥擜typical Glandular Cells. Glandular cells are mucus-producing cells found in the endocervical canal (opening in the center of the cervix) or in the lining of the uterus. The glandular cells do not appear normal, but doctors are uncertain what the cell changes mean.
AIS 鈥攅ndocervical Adenocarcinoma In Situ. Precancerous cells are found in the glandular tissue.
LSIL 鈥擫ow-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion. Low-grade means there are early changes in the size and shape of the cells. The word lesion refers to an area of abnormal tissue. LSILs are considered mild abnormalities caused by HPV infection and are a common condition, especially among young women. The majority of LSILs return to normal over months to a few years.
HSIL 鈥擧igh-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion. High-grade means that the cells look very different in size and shape from normal cells. HSILs are more severe abnormalities and may eventually lead to cancer if left untreated.
Pap test results may also be described using an older set of categories called the 鈥渄ysplasia scale.鈥?Dysplasia is a term used to describe abnormal cells. Although dysplasia is not cancer, it may develop into very early cancer of the cervix. The cells look abnormal under the microscope, but they do not invade nearby healthy tissue.
There are four degrees of dysplasia: mild, moderate, severe, and carcinoma in situ. Carcinoma in situ is a precancerous condition that involves only the layer of cells on the surface of the cervix, and has not spread to nearby tissues. In the Bethesda System, mild dysplasia is classified as LSIL; moderate or severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ are combined into HSIL.
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is another term that is sometimes used to describe abnormal tissue findings. Neoplasia means an abnormal growth of cells. The term CIN along with a number (1, 2, or 3) describes how much of the thickness of the lining of the cervix contains abnormal cells. CIN鈥? is considered to be a precancerous condition that includes carcinoma in situ.
What tests are used to screen for and diagnose precancerous cervical conditions?
A Pap test is the standard way to check for any cervical cell changes. A Pap test is usually done as part of a gynecologic exam. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines recommend that women have a Pap test at least once every 3 years, beginning about 3 years after they begin to have sexual intercourse, but no later than age 21.
Because the HPV test can detect high-risk types of HPV in cervical cells, the FDA approved this test as a useful addition to the Pap test to help health care providers decide which women with ASC鈥揢S need further testing, such as colposcopy and biopsy of any abnormal areas. (Colposcopy is a procedure in which a lighted magnifying instrument called a colposcope is used to examine the vagina and cervix. Biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for diagnosis.) In addition, the HPV test may be a helpful addition to the Pap test for general screening of women age 30 and over.
What are the treatment options for HPV infection?
Although there is currently no medical cure for papillomavirus infection, the lesions and warts these viruses cause can be treated. Methods commonly used to treat lesions include cryosurgery (freezing that destroys tissue), LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure, the removal of tissue using a hot wire loop), and conventional surgery. Similar treatments may be used for external genital warts. In addition, some drugs may be used to treat external genital warts (5). More information about treatment for genital warts can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention鈥檚 (CDC) Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines Web page at http://www.cdc.gov/STD/treatment/ on the Internet.
What research is being done on HPV-related cancers?
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and elsewhere are studying how HPVs cause precancerous changes in normal cells and how these changes can be prevented (6). For example, scientists are developing HPV vaccines that will be stable at room temperature. The goal is to develop a vaccine that does not require refrigeration for storage and distribution, which could allow for its use in many climates and locations.
Laboratory research has indicated that HPVs produce proteins known as E5, E6, and E7. These proteins interfere with the cell functions that normally prevent excessive growth. For example, HPV E6 interferes with the human protein p53. This protein is present in all people and acts to keep tumors from growing (7). This research is being used to develop ways to interrupt the process by which HPV infection can lead to the growth of abnormal cells.
Researchers at the NCI and elsewhere are also studying what people know and understand about HPV and cervical cancer, the best way to communicate to the public about the latest research results, and how doctors are talking with their patients about HPV. This research will help to ensure that the public receives accurate information about HPV that is easily understood, and will facilitate access to appropriate tests for those who need them.
How can people learn more about HPV infection?
The following Federal Government agencies can provide more information about HPV infection:
The NCI鈥檚 Digest Page about Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccines for Cervical Cancer provides links to NCI materials about HPV vaccines as well as general information about HPV, cancer vaccines, and cervical cancer. This Web site can be found at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/hpv-v... on the Internet.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) supports research on HPV infection and offers printed materials. NIAID can be contacted at:
Organization: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Address: Office of Communications and Public Liaison
6610 Rockledge Drive, MSC 6612
Bethesda, MD 20892鈥?612
Telephone: 301鈥?96鈥?717
TTY: 1鈥?00鈥?77鈥?339
Internet Web site: http://www3.niaid.nih.gov
The CDC-INFO Contact Center provides information on sexually transmitted infections, including HPV, and how to prevent them. The center can be reached by calling toll-free 1鈥?00鈥揅DC鈥揑NFO (1鈥?00鈥?32鈥?636). Both English- and Spanish-speaking specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Staff provide information about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and referrals to free or low-cost clinics nationwide. Free educational literature about sexually transmitted infections and prevention methods is also available. The CDC鈥檚 Division of STD Prevention Web site also has information about HPV, including treatment guidelines and surveillance statistics. This Web site can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/ on the Internet.
How is it treated?
The main aim of treatment for HPV is to reduce symptoms and in the case of genital infections ensure any dysplasia is eradicated. Most common warts will eventually resolve on their own but this can sometimes take years. If your warts cause pain or discomfort or cause cosmetic problems, you can opt to have them treated. Unfortunately however, recurrences of warts are common. A number of different treatment options are available to treat warts as follows:
Cryotherapy - This is a common method for treating warts and other skin lesions. Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the wart, which eventually blisters and falls off. This treatment however can be painful and sting.
Cautery - This involves using an electrical current to burn off the lesion. Laser therapy is another alternative.
Chemical treatments - Certain drugs can be applied topically to the lesion which alter the immune response to the HPV virus or kill abnormal cells. Some agents may also be injected.
Surgery - Occasionally large warts may be removed by cutting them out.
Genital warts should always be treated by a doctor. You should not use over-the-counter remedies meant for other kinds of warts. Your doctor may treat genital warts by applying a skin treatment in the office or the doctor may prescribe a medication that you apply at home several times per week. If you develop genital warts, all of your sexual partners must be examined by a health care provider and treated if genital warts are found. After your initial treatment, your doctor will schedule follow-up examinations to see if the warts have returned.
Women who have had genital warts, and female partners of men with a history of genital warts, should have a pap smear at least every 6 months. For warts on the cervix, women may be advised to have pap smears every 3 months after initial treatment.
Prevention of HPV
It is probably the best management to try and avoid acquiring HPV. This can be achieved by minimising sexual partners and using safe sex practices such as barrier contraception (condoms). Recently a vaccine called Gardisil has been introduced that specifically protects against HPV infection. This has been shown to reduce up to three quarters of cervical cancers. The vaccine is currently covered by Medicare for females aged 9-26. In older women the vaccine is less effective as they will most likely have already obtained the virus.
Note that there has been some debate over the HPV vaccine saying it is a 'sex vaccine' and that abstinence is a better option. However you should recognise that the vaccine is safe and provides protection against a leading cause of death in women. If used correctly it offers major benefits to women. You should however continue to have safe sex practices as it does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections. Furthermore regular pap smears are still required for women who have received the vaccine.
Drugs used in the treatment of this disease:
Human Papillomavirus vaccine, recombinant
(Gardasil) HPV= Human PapillomaVirus
if there's no cure, ur screwed, no guy will ever sleep with u again if u tell them.
this leads to the next choice: i wont tell them!
and ur next problem is a guilty conscience but who cares ur getting some! |
