Cause of HPV - Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Message Board

catherineb9 · 01-17-2009, 07:22 AM

Is it true that not all strains of HPV are caused from STDs? I had a pap smear about three or four years ago, and it was fine. I had another one in November, and all was fine. I went in for a laproscopy this week, and as well as stage I endometriosis, they have identified HPV in the cervix. He cleaned out all of the cells. I am curious to know what the cause of it could be, if it isn't an STD

Thisby · 01-17-2009, 09:43 AM

Different strains of HPV cause different problems on different parts of the body, and they are passed different way. Genital warts are classified as a sexually transmitted disease or infection (STD/STI) because it requires some kind of sexual contact to be transmitted, given their location. Same with the strains that cause cervical cell changes.

The kinds of HPV that would not be classified as sexually transmitted are the types that cause plantars or palmars warts, or when people, especially kids, get them on non-genital parts of their body (hands, legs...). Nothing sexual has to happen for hand-to-hand transmission.

I hate to say it, but since yours is on your cervix, I'd think that would classify as an STD. What makes you say it isn't an STD?

catherineb9 · 01-19-2009, 12:54 AM

Thank you so much for your advice. I guess I was just hoping that it wasn't due to an STD even though it is in the cervix. I am having my stitches taken out tomorrow, as well as a follow up, so I will find out more then. I was just advised telephonically of the HPV and didn't have a clue as to what it was etc.

Pickle Eyes · 01-19-2009, 11:08 AM

Catherine, may I ask what surgery you had that required stitches? I hope you are healing well!

catherineb9 · 01-20-2009, 02:06 AM

Hi there. I was having lots of problems, so I went in for a hysteroscopy and laprascopy. It was during that they realised that I had endometriosis, and the "pre-malignant" cells caused by the HPV. Seems like all has been sorted, he removed the cells. He says I need to go for a pap smear in 6 months, as well as a...I think it;s a coloscopy? at the same time. I'm just a bit concerned since I had a pap smear about two months before the surgery and nothing came up. It was through a different gynae who doesn't seem to be very good (he ran bloods at the wrong time of my cycle and so they all came up fine and he told me i don't have any problems, did an exam and told me i had polycystic ovaries but that i didn't need to worry, they would go away on their own!) despite him practising at a reputable hospital. My new gynae says that the only reason he can think is that the infection in the cells were brand new and that's why they didn't show on the pap. So now I have litte "X's" all over! I shall be going out to buy tissue oil to try and avoid "pirate X-marks-the-spot" scarring!