HPV - Reinfection with Intercourse? - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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HPV - Reinfection with Intercourse?

HPV - Reinfection with Intercourse?

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Ask A Doctor

I had a hysterectomy for adenocarcinoma in situ. I have been with the same partner for eight years. If we have intercourse, can he keep reinfecting me with the bad HPV cells that caused the cancer in the first place? Should we be using condoms?

The current belief is that you cannot be reinfected so condoms are not beneficial if you are with the same partner. You already have whichever strain of HPV has caused these abnormal cells. Your body will figure out how to put that HPV strain into dormancy and it will recognize that specific virus time and again. Thus, when you are exposed to that same virus (for example, perhaps you have HPV-16) your immune system will recognize it and subdue it--it won't cause a new infection.

For comparison, chicken pox is caused by the herpes zoster virus. Once you have had the chicken pox, the virus stays with you and it is kind of held in a "jail" of sorts in your spinal nerves where it stays and can't cause any problems. In the past, you came in contact with chicken pox all the time (think of all those kids who had the chicken pox) but you only got it once (for the most part). Your immune system recognizes the active chicken pox virus and any new active virus is sent to "jail" without causing chicken pox again. However, once in a while if the immune system gets low, that virus breaks out of its "jail" and cause shingles.

The strains of HPV for which you are concerned don't cause anything other than dysplasia/cervical cancer. If the infection reactivates, you might get a new occurrence of abnormal cells. Or your body might hurry up and put it back into dormancy before it causes problems. But for most women it's one battle and its done. The immune system works in a different way than it does with chicken pox (it doesn't keep HPV in the spinal nerves), but that comparison kind of helps you understand the concept of how the body subdues the virus.

However, if you are ever exposed to a new strain of HPV such as if you have a new sexual partner, you start the process all over again. It is essentially impossible to know, though, if it's a new infection you are dealing with or if its a reactivation of an old one. While condoms may be helpful, they don't cover all of the skin that may have HPV so they really aren't very effective at preventing transmission of HPV.

To try to prevent future issues with HPV, take good care of yourself. Eat well. Take a multivitamin. Get plenty of sleep. Keep your stress to a minimum. Don't smoke. Exercise moderately. All of these things are believed to help keep your immune system healthy so you can fight this off.

Also, don’t neglect to have your annual PAP/vaginal vault smears.

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

Geoffrey Bowers, M.D. 834 Chestnut Street Suite 300 Philadelphia PA 19107 215-955-5000	Larry R. Glazerman, M.D. USF College of Medicine 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 62 Tampa FL 33612 813-259-8500	Nonnie-Marie Estella, M.D. 10 Research Place Suite 520 North Chelmsford MA 01863 978-459-8300
Amie Napier, M.D. Medical City Hospital 7777 Forest Lane Suite A331 Dallas TX 75230 9725667760	Aram Bonni, M.D. 25108 Marguerite Parkway Suite A-259 Mission Viejo CA 92692 949-916-2100	Ellen Wilson, M.D. 5323 Harry Hines Blvd - Dept of OBGYN Dallas TX 75390 214-648-4747
David Zisow, M.D. 2005 Rock Spring Rd Ste. 3 Forest Hill - Baltimore MD 21050 410-879-1139	Emily Cunningham, M.D. 1720 Nicholasville Road Suite 702 Lexington KY 40503 859-264-8811	Megan Bird, M.D. 364 SE 8th Ave, Suite 205 Hillsboro OR 97202 503-681-4145

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