HPV question - can't get a straight answer!

michelethepurple · 04-01-2002, 10:32 AM

About 2 years ago I was told I had HPV. I had a breakout of bumps. My doc said they were genital warts. They lasted a month and cleared up on their own. Every pap smear and std blood test I've had since then shows NO trace of any HPV virus.

So I'm wondering, do I have HPV/Genital Warts or not? I thought that even if the warts were not present, HPV would show up in the test screening, but I am completely clean. So I'm confused http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif

Any and all comments appreciated!

Mish

sdp · 04-01-2002, 02:00 PM

The PAP smear shows abnormal cellular changes of the area that was swabbed on the cervix. If it is normal then it just may mean that the HPV has not necessarily infected the cervical area. Wherever you had the warts is the area that is infected. There could be other areas infected but just asymptomatic. I'm surprised that you weren't treated for your original outbreak of warts. At a minimum, the warts are swabbed with a solution to kill off the abnormal growths.

Anarchist · 04-08-2002, 02:50 PM

HPV warts dont go away. If the bumps went away it wasnt HPV.

You could have had Molluscum which is a virus simmiliar to HPV, but eventually goes away on its own. Do a search on Molluscum on the net..

michelethepurple · 04-09-2002, 03:34 PM

Thanks, both of you, for the info.

I looked up Molluscum. I can't find any info about transmitting it after the bumps have gone away. Is it like HPV in that once you've had it, you always have it? I also think the bumps I had looked more like HPV warts than Molluscum, but they definitely went away by themselves, and after only having them for about 2 months and haven't come back. Still a little
confused :-)

Thanks again, Michele

siobhan · 04-09-2002, 05:36 PM

michele, from what I understand and from my personal experience, HPV warts can go away completely, or they can stay for awhile. It does happen that they clear up on their own.

It doesn't however mean that since the warts cleared up, that you are HPV free. You aren't ever going to be HPV-free, you might just not be experiencing symptoms.

I've read of a couple cases, where over time, you begin to appear clear of it, essentially, for some people, experiencing no symptoms for awhile, and then they will be begin to test negative for it.

So, hopefully, it was your good luck that they disapeared on thier own. I definately wouldn't take it as you are cured of it.