| Re: HPV Positive
I'm guessing your doctor found abnormal cells during a pap smear, which is why she wants to do further examination. It is possible to develop abnormal cells without having HPV. However, if your doctor says it is HPV, it is a sexually transmitted infection. The virus can be in your system for years before it shows up in your gynecological exams, so you may have gotten it from a recent partner or from someone further back in your past. The HPV virus does cause cervical cancer in women (and genital warts in men and women), which is why it's so important to follow up with your doctor...if you keep getting pap smears and treating abnormal cells, your risks of cervical cancer even with the virus will stay pretty low. If you have seen commercials for Gardasil (the "one less" vaccine), this vaccine aims to prevent transmission of HPV and thereby reduce cervical cancer. Good luck and let us know if you have any more questions.
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