Hpv - Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Message Board

wendy0372 · 06-25-2008, 10:18 PM

Hello! I am just waiting on my test results to come back for cervical cancer and have been reading up on it. It says that HPV causes it. This may be a silly question but I'm going to ask it anyway. I know you can do tests to confirm that you have it but can you find out how long you've had it for?

Thisby · 06-26-2008, 07:57 AM

As far as I know, there is no way to know. I've read that with herpes there's a way to tell by the type of antibodies - so you either know it's either recent or not, no specific age - but I've never heard of that for HPV.

newpatient485 · 06-26-2008, 08:41 AM

Unfortunately, there's no good way to know. Sometimes you'll get symptoms immediately after exposure, sometimes the virus lays dormant in your body for years before they see any signs, and most people NEVER know they have it at all.

The only way you could be 100% sure when/from who you got it is if you'd only have one partner, once.

Pickle Eyes · 06-26-2008, 09:14 AM

Wendy, as these ladies have said, there is no way of knowing how long you've had HPV in your body. I know I've had mine for at least 16 years (and I am faithful, and believe hubby to be also).

I was diagnosed with cervical cancer (Ia1) in April. If you have any questions, please ask. Also, if you haven't found the Cervical Cancer board here at healthboards, please go there. There are many women, in various stages of cancer (or precancer) diagnosis who are willing to help in any way they can.