HPV - Monogamous with an HPV Diagnosis - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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HPV - Monogamous with an HPV Diagnosis

HPV - Monogamous with an HPV Diagnosis

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Please help! I have been married 30+ years and both of us have been mutually monogamous. I have had no other sex partners; my spouse has had two prior sexual encounters and he wore a condom both times. I have recently had two abnormal paps and found out I am positive for HPV. I have been in shock and feel depressed by this. How could this have happened?

It is understandable that given your social history of a long-term marriage you would be shocked with an HPV diagnosis. Others with similar circumstances have been as well.

It is important to understand that Human papillomavirus (HPV) can live in dormancy for a very long time, in fact, potentially forever, depending on the state of one's immune system. Most statics indicate that by age 50, 80% of women will be exposed to HPV and the vast majority never show a sign or symptom of it. Nothing. No abnormal PAP, absolutely nothing. 70% of those exposed will either fight it off immediately or within the first 12 months, and 90% will have fought of the infection within 2 years. Their bodies recognize it as a foreign invader and immediately shut it down and it is never able to invade. Some of those may surface later at times when the immune system is not operating at its maximum, and some will never surface.

While condoms may reduce the risk of HPV associated diseases, they are not effective at preventing the transmission of HPV 100%. There are just too many areas of the penis and scrotum that are not covered by the condom, and those areas come in contact with the female genitalia. So while they may help decrease transmission to a certain extent, they are not very effective at it.

The most likely scenario is that you picked up HPV probably years ago early in your marriage and you've had a remarkably well-working immune system. It's hard to say what may have happened to change that today. There are so many stressors in life that could cause a drop in how well your immune system functions.

On the bright side (if there is one), most women do put an HPV infection back into dormancy within 2 years. To increase your chances of beating HPV back into submission, you need to take very good care of yourself: Get lots of rest, eat well, don't smoke, exercise moderately, pray/meditate/do yoga, and make sure to have your annual or bi-annual PAPs.

This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.

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Find A Doctor Near You

Aarathi Cholkeri-Singh, M.D. 120 Osler Drive Ste. 100 Napeville IL 60540 630-428-2229	Ellen Wilson, M.D. 5323 Harry Hines Blvd - Dept of OBGYN Dallas TX 75390 214-648-4747	Brad Cohen, M.D. 2477 Route 516 Suite 103 Old Bridge NJ 08857 732-679-6900
Jack Ayoub, M.D. 44035 Riverside Parkway Suite 435 Leesburg VA 20176 703.858.5599	Nonnie-Marie Estella, M.D. 10 Research Place Suite 520 North Chelmsford MA 01863 978-459-8300	Geoffrey Cly, M.D. Suite 101, 11123 Parkview Plaza Drive Fort Wayne IN 46845 260-969-5530
James Kondrup, M.D. 161 Riverside Drive Suite 109 Binghamton NY 13905 607-770-7074	Mayra J. Thompson, M.D. 5323 Harry Hines Blvd Dept OBGYN Dallas TX 75290 214-645-3888	Melanie Bone, M.D. 5301 S. Congress Ave. Atlantis FL 33462 561-548-8600

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