Hi,

I have been diagnosed with HPV few weeks ago and I am devastated.
I am 29, sexually active for 2 years only and look how I ended, maybe I should have stayed a virgin forever, at least I would have been healthy.

I am not sure I can survive with this, it really makes me feel bad, I feel like I have a disgusting disease that can lead to cancer and I can do nothing about it.

I have some questions I hope you'll be able to answer:

1) I have high risk HPV, what will happen to me? Doc said to go get tested in another 6 months, what if it gets worse? What's the worst case scenario? Will I die even if I'll go for regular tests?

2) Will HPV go away eventually, and if it won't go away by itself can doctors do something about it? (I dont smoke and I dont drink, I eat healthy and I am thin and look at me, I got it anyway, at this point I agree with people who say "enjoy life, they smoke, they drink and they get my same disease, so what's the difference in keeping "healthy"?????).

3) I do not have visible WARTS, will I have them (external?)? I have high risk HPV.

4) Will I have to live in shame for the rest of my life? Will my life be normal again? Will I be miserable forever?

5) I am a prude girl, never done anything wrong and anything out of the lines and I got it anyway, the only way not to get it was not to have any partners ever? Is that possible? Are there people like that??? I am been pretty good though and I got it anyway.

6) Once I cleared it up (though I dont think I am that lucky, I'll probably die from this), will I be immune to this specific kind of HPV forever?

7) Will I ever clear it completly up from my system?

8 ) Can I continue my relationship with my boyfriend? I already told him I have this and he was fine though he wants our sexual life to continue normally, is that possible? Isn't it healthier for me not to have sex AT ALL for the next year or better FOREVER? I am scared that everything I'll do it will make it worse.

9) Should I tell my partner to go get tested? Which test?

10) My doc told me I can take the GARDASIL vaccine for the other kind of HPV, will that help?

Please please answer my questions, I can't stop crying, I feel like a whore, dirty with a disease, please help me get rid of this feeling, I beg you!!

Is there a phone number I can call to ask questions?

Hello grumpy80 and welcome to our site.

The emotional aspects of an HPV diagnosis, for many, are much harder than any medical issues that arise. It's understandable and unfortunate. HPV is very common, with research indicating that the vast, vast majority of sexually active people contract HPV at some point in their lives. The reason you don't hear more about it is that for most of those with the virus, it's "silent" and clears without them ever being aware. Having HPV is in no way a reflection on someone's character or lifestyle. Increasingly, being exposed to HPV is part of being a normal sexually active adult.

"High risk" HPV types are usually not the same as "low risk" types that cause genital warts. "High risk" types are so-called because of their link to cervical (and some other) cancers, but it's important to remember that cancer of any type is an uncommon outcome of "high risk" HPV infection. Cervical cancer, for example, is almost always avoided with regular Pap tests and, if needed, follow up exams and treatment. For more on this aspect, go to http://www.ashastd.org/hpv/hpv_learn_dysplasia.cfm#6.

Transmission studies among couples are lacking, but it doesn't appear likely that couples sharing an HPV infection will "ping pong" the virus back and forth. Some research suggests that couples who use condoms might be able to clear both HPV and associated lesions (like cervical cell abnormalities) a bit more quickly, but more studies are needed to fully understand this. Suffice to say reinfection with your current partner probably isn't an issue, but some couples choose to use condoms regardless. Condom use has also been associated with lower rates of HPV-related diseases, like cervical cancer.

There is no HPV test approved for clinical use for males and even the one approved for females is only licensed for use in specific screening circumstances, not as a general means of checking HPV infection status.

Gardasil vaccine is recommended by CDC for use with females 11-12 years of age, and for those 13-26 who have not previously had it. Talk more with your doctor about what's appropriate for you.

Finally....take it easy on yourself. You are doing the right thing by seeking information and asking questions. Review all the HPV material on our site and if you still have unanswered questions, let us know.

Best to you,
Fredo
HPV Board Moderator

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ASHA Moderator