she is getting sick - Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Message Board

nickp5464 · 04-21-2009, 12:56 AM

I have genital warts. My girlfriend has been sick 3 times in a month with a sore throat, a head ache and a fever. Are these symptoms caused by hpv?

Drafly · 04-21-2009, 10:12 AM

While HPV can cause cancer in the mouth/throat it is not caused by the strain of the virus you have mentioned which causes genital warts (6 and 11 usually) as these are low risk HPV strains. However, if you have low risk HPV, chances are good you also have a high risk strain of HPV and so she needs to have a Pap and HPV test done. She should request the HPV test regardless of what the Pap shows. Some docs only do the HPV test if the Pap is abnormal. I'd recommend since you know she has been exposed to HPV by you that she have the HPV test done anyhow but she needs to specifically request it in a lot of cases.

The symptoms you mention aren't ones caused by HPV. However, if she is having these symptoms (especially the fever) this would indicate infection and she really shouldn't mess with her health. She should go get this checked out.

nickp5464 · 04-21-2009, 08:45 PM

Thank you for your advice. I'll try not to ask you too many questions, but my doctor gave me Aldara 5%. It is very expensive. Do you know anything that costs less and works to get rid of warts?

Drafly · 04-22-2009, 09:14 AM

Ask as many questions as you need. That's what everyone is here for.

As to your Aldara question, I would suggest that you be up front with your doc and tell him/her that you cannot afford the Aldara. You didn't mention insurance but if you don't have any, the doc may have samples to give you, or, many pharmaceutical companies will assist with meds but you generally have to request that your docs office submit paperwork on your behalf.

I'd also suggest your gf get the Gardasil vaccine. If she can't afford it, Merck offers assistance for this as well and so does Planned Parenthod.

nickp5464 · 04-23-2009, 01:44 AM

Well, my family chipped in and helped me get the Aldara. I guess I'll see how that goes. The bumps aren't as big as the pictures I see online. There are about 6 of them and they don't look like colliflower yet. I've had them for a few months and they haven't gotten worse I just want them gone! I've had a half script before because it was all I could afford. They started to go away but i ran out, and the full script is only 12 tiny packets. I hoped to get a little more for 300 dollars...Doc says use it every 3 days..Seems a little far apart but I guess I have to follow directions..I will definately tell my girlfriend about the vaccine.