HPV Virus

[design-girl-00.livejournal.com]

I live in the United States, and there is an epidemic here of the HPV virus (more in certain areas of the country). There are over 100 different types of this virus. Some can cause cervical cancer, some can cause genital warts, and some will never really be anything at all during your life. Well, this past week I had a colposcopy to check my  "abnormal" results from my last pap smear, and she said that I have the HPV virus, but nothing appears abnormal at all, and it should be nothing to worry about. Very common she said. Hmmm...I am a "worrier" and I just hate knowing I have it. She said it's not pre-cancerous and it's not warts, so she said not to worry. She asked me "Do you worry about the freckles on your face?" I said..."well, not particularly." The point she was trying to make was that I don't worry about my freckles turning to cancer, so this is like the same thing, and not to worry about it. 

For me, I have an issue with accepting that I have it. That it's okay, as the gyno said. I don't even notice that I have it. Absoulutely no change physically or sensually. But just to know I have it is a lot on my mind. My question is: Does anyone else have HPV and feel comfortable telling me about your experience or diagnosis with it? I feel uneasy not knowing which type (out of the 100+ types) that I have...do you? Do you know which type you have? Also, if anyone knows anything that might help me accept this new part of me, so that I don't feel afraid to have sex again with a new partner. Currently I am not sexually active with a partner, but when that time comes, I don't want to feel hesitation or insecurity. Help?

Comments

[design-girl-00.livejournal.com]

WOW, THANK YOU so much for sharing all of that with me! It means a lot to me. I think you'll be a GREAT sex education teacher! You've helped make me feel comfortable, so thank you. So, is there a way the gynechologist can check to see which specific strain that I have? I want to find out. I just feel like no one would ever want to be with me again, since I'd have to be honest and share that I have it. Any tips on how you told your boyfriend? Thanks so much.

[scien.livejournal.com]

On your first question, yes there is such a test - see http://www.thehpvtest.com/.

[design-girl-00.livejournal.com]

thanks!

[oh-loverrr.livejournal.com]

i tried to be striaght forward with my boyfriend, but i was still shocked from the news that i had an abnormal pap, so i kind of broke down when i told him. i told him that i'd received a rather serious call from the doctors telling me that my pap smear results were abnormal, which meant i had to go back for a colposcopy procedure. he asked what they'd be looking for during the colposcopy, and i explained (amid hiccups and tears) that they'd probably be looking for evidence of the 'genital warts' virus.

i asked him to go with me to the colposcopy, and he didn't even hesitate to take the day off from work. i don't think i even told my family why i was going to the doctor that day. he held my hand thru the procedure, which helped especially during the more painful part when the doc poured vinegar in my bits. eh.

...and that was really it. my doc educated us on the virus after the procedure. we asked questions, received answers. it sucked, but the weight of the reality of the diagnosis eventually merged seamlessly into the rest of my life.

when the time comes for you to share this information with your partner, i'd be sure that you first TRUST that person completley and then give him the straight up facts: this is the disease i have, my doctor said that i don't have warts and it's not detectable HPV, these are the measures i want to take the ensure that we have a good time but that we're also safe.

xo.

[design-girl-00.livejournal.com]

Awesome, thanks hun. It's nice to talk to someone who understands and has been through this. Thank you. I know this may be personal, but that means that I can also pass this to a guy if he gives me oral, right? That is how I understood my research anyway. Just let me know, thanks so much for taking the time to help me. I didn't know where else to turn, but to the internet and livejournal. Sounds dumb, but my gyno is older and more traditional so talking about oral sex with an assistant in the room as well was something that I just couldn't get out of my mouth to ask. ;) thanks. xoxo

[oh-loverrr.livejournal.com]

i'm not sure about the oral thing.

my gyno said that we'd been together long enough that even if i hadn't gotten the virus from him, i'd probably already given it to him. she said that in our continued intimate life, we'd just be sharing the virus back and forth again. she mentioned nothing about oral sex. we've both engaged in oral sex with each other since then, though, and i definitely don't have warts on my face! i've actually never had any warts on my body, and as far as i know, neither has my husband.

feel free to ask as many questions as you need! it's not dumb at all! xo.

[design-girl-00.livejournal.com]

Okay, thanks hun. :) :) You've been very helpful.