stds, genital warts, wart virus

[seihonnoo.livejournal.com]

This is probably a silly question but I'm going to ask it anyways.

My last pap smear was abnormal so I had to go back for more testing. The test results came back and said I have the wart virus. Apparently there is a wart on my cervix?

Does this mean I have genital warts? Does this mean I have an std? If so, what do I do about this? Have any good everything-you-want-to-know-about-genital-wart links? :)

I always thought I was really careful. >.> That being said, anyone know of some good "how to have completely safe fooling around/sex" books or online articles? I'm finding my sex education to be a bit lacking.

Thanks in advanced! :)

Edits: I guess something I should add is that I'm as interested in safe intercourse as I am in safe oral sex and safe fingering. ;) I haven't had a penis in my vagina, but I have done a bit of oral sex.
That being said, I have been recently fingered by a man with a wart on his hand, could that be the reason for the wart on my cervix? One HPV strand causes warts on hands and other places on the body. Another strand of HPV is genital warts. And yet another strand of HPV can cause warts on the cervix (genital warts can also do this, but it isn't as likely). Am I getting this right?

Comments

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

The Vulvapedia entry on HPV (http://www.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=Human_Papillomavirus_%28HPV%29) is a good place to start, since I'm assuming "wart virus" means "a strain of HPV that shows up as warts." And this page (http://www.ashastd.org/hpv/hpv_learn_warts.cfm) from the ASHA is really informative, too.

Basically, you might find a couple of things repeated:

1) HPV is very common. The majority of the sexually active population has at least one strain, though it may or may not be a strain that causes visible symptoms for them.

2) It's possible to spread HPV even being "really careful." Since the virus is spread through skin-to-skin contact, condoms are only about 70% effective in reducing transmission.

In terms of safer sex practices, this page (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/northern-adirondack/safer-sex.htm) from Planned Parenthood lists various activities and their risk levels. Also, this site (http://www.positive.org/JustSayYes/safesex.html) explains some safer sex tips and techniques -- and is especially fabulous for its animated condom-wearing penis illustrations! :P

[thenumber111.livejournal.com]

you can get STDs through fingering?! can anyone clarify it for me?!

[marionravenwood.livejournal.com]

Everything frolicnaked said, but I wanted to clarify:

My last pap smear was abnormal so I had to go back for more testing. The test results came back and said I have the wart virus. Apparently there is a wart on my cervix?

If by "wart virus" you just mean HPV, then no, having a positive HPV test does not mean you have a wart on your cervix. It does mean you probably had abnormal cells on your cervix, but the types of HPV that cause abnormal paps do not cause warts.

Does this mean I have genital warts?

No. Genital warts are caused by a different strain of HPV and are detected by visual examination (you see a wart) not pap tests.

Does this mean I have an std?

If you had a positive cervical HPV test, yes, that's an STD. However, it's incredibly common (about 80% of people are exposed to it at some point) and most people clear it within two years.

[foureyeddarlin.livejournal.com]

If you have been exposed to a low-risk strain of HPV - one which can cause benign (non-harmful) growths - you can develop growths (warts) on your cervix.

If you have been exposed to a high-risk strain of HPV - one which can cause cell changes which could become malignant - you can develop cell dysplasia/cell abnormalities on your cervix.

I'm a fan of the National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV) information page on HPV.