So is HPV considered an STD?

phillyandashley

nft.

one.sweet.world

B/c you get it from having sex with a person who has the virus.

Hi725

Yes, otherwise known as genital warts.

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AngelGirlEms

Hi725:

Yes, otherwise known as genital warts.

?

Only certain strands of HPV are genital warts....just a few actually, most HPV strands will cause irregular cervical cells.?

abizzzle

DEFINATLY is not always associated with warts. Not at all. Some cases lead to the warts, but not the majority.

smismar

Yes and no.  There are many strains of HPV ranging from the STD of genital warts to the common plantar warts that you can get on your feet at a pool or common shower.  Cold sores are also a strain of HPV that you can get from kissing or just sharing a glass with someone with them.

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abizzzle

**STI**

Hi725

My apologies. It's early and I was too lazy to type out a full paragraph. Yes, it is one or two strains that cause the warts. Most people who have it show no signs or symptoms because they never develope warts. It is an STD though, and it is highly contagious. Even the use of condoms can not prevent the spread, depending on there the warts are on the penis/vagina.

Cold sores are a type of herpes vius (HSV), not HPV.

Stellar1

yes

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phillyandashley

To clarify, at my colposcopy yesterday OB told me I only have very few abnormal cells. Never had warts, except one on my toe when I was like 10. I get cold sores every once in a while, from coxsacki(sp?) virus when I was 12. I didn't get my first kiss til I was 14 and I don't share drinks with anyone but DH. I feel gross. I don't like to think I have an STD. I've always been so careful.

PlannedChaos

Thanks HI - had just come in to correct the HPV/HSV thing.  HSV is a totally different virus. 

abizzzle

When I went to my first visit after finding out I was pregnant, I got a pap done and it came back with low risk problems. But they had me get a coposcopy in the office and then referred me to the oncologist for another one. They found a lot of abnormal cells. It was widespread but low risk. I definately did not have any warts inside. They even had my mom look cause she is a nurse (yeck!)

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Neudorfer

phillyandashley:

To clarify, at my colposcopy yesterday OB told me I only have very few abnormal cells. Never had warts, except one on my toe when I was like 10. I get cold sores every once in a while, from coxsacki(sp?) virus when I was 12. I didn't get my first kiss til I was 14 and I don't share drinks with anyone but DH. I feel gross. I don't like to think I have an STD. I've always been so careful.

don't feel gross, its very common and the reason why is because it can show absolutely no symptoms, especially in men.  i was diagnosed with hpv in college (thanks *** ex...) and had 2 irregular paps- then my doc thinks it cleared itself up.  i get normal yearlys and it probably wont show back up again.  good luck and try not to be so hard on yourself there are many women out there with this.

Hi725

Neudorfer:

phillyandashley:

To clarify, at my colposcopy yesterday OB told me I only have very few abnormal cells. Never had warts, except one on my toe when I was like 10. I get cold sores every once in a while, from coxsacki(sp?) virus when I was 12. I didn't get my first kiss til I was 14 and I don't share drinks with anyone but DH. I feel gross. I don't like to think I have an STD. I've always been so careful.

don't feel gross, its very common and the reason why is because it can show absolutely no symptoms, especially in men.  i was diagnosed with hpv in college (thanks *** ex...) and had 2 irregular paps- then my doc thinks it cleared itself up.  i get normal yearlys and it probably wont show back up again.  good luck and try not to be so hard on yourself there are many women out there with this.

Ditto. I've read studies where it is estimated that up to 75% of women may have it at some point in their lives. Most of those cases will remain undiagnosed because either no symtoms ever develope, or the pap misses them. Like I said, it's highly contagious, and if you are having sex with someone who is infected, there is very little you can do to prevent it. Luckily, the immune system clears most strains within a few years. I had an abnormal pap 4 years ago and showed positive for one of the strains. My last 3 paps have been totally clear and there has been no sign of it since.

phillyandashley

Neudorfer, I just wanted to say thank you. Your response made me tear up. I hate to think I could be compared to someone that's not careful, who doesn't care, who's got 5 different STD's.I am careful. I do care. I want to do every thing I can. I just feel so... Dirty? I have no idea where I got it. That's another thing. I haven't had 10 or 20 partners. I've had less than 5 and I was so careful and was with all of them for a while before having sex and yet it makes me feel so nasty to not know where this came from. It's not as bad as not knowing who the father of your child is, but it feels that bad to me. Thank you so much. You made me feel so much better.

Neudorfer

good   like i said, don't be too hard on yourself.  you have plenty other stuff to worry about then this.  take care of yourself!

crawtater

Depends on your definition. There are in the neighborhood of 100 strains; a couple are associated w/ cancer, a couple are associated with warts (genital or other places), and most are basically like a cold virus in that you get it, your body fights it off, and that's that. It's passed by skin-to-skin contact, so you don't actually have to have sex to get it--just "fooling around" can be enough. And, similarly, condoms don't protect against it. I had my first abnormal PAP in 1995, before I started having sex.

cls_ou

To make you feel better, over 85% of women have had or do have HPV and they usually don't know it and many times they don't catch it.  Depending on what type it is, most of the time the dr. can watch it and it will clear itself up.  i had one dr. tell me that i needed surgery immediately, the 2nd consultation informed that she would watch it and it cleared itself up in about 6 mo. and i haven't had an abnormal pap since...

JOEBunny

STD's don't just happen to people who "don't care" or have lots of partners, they are likely to happen to people who don't expect to have sex, but end up doing so without using condoms.  They are likely to happen to anyone who is having sex with anyone.  Even two virgins can end up with herpes, since you can spead it orally to the genitals. 

Most people have HPV, estimates range from 50% to 90% of people, with 75% being a good guess, so if you had sex with 5 people, odds are good you were exposed at least 3 or 4 times.  Condoms do not protect against HPV, which is why the vaccinne is a great thing.  

If you have cervical cancer, you have HPV.  Many people with HPV never have any symptoms or problems and never develop cervical or other HPV related  cancers or symptoms.  Men can develop symptoms, such as genitle warts or a few types of rare cancer, but it is much more rare.

No need to feel bad about it.  It is really common.  Anyone who would condem you for it pretty much is condeming themselves, unless they have not had sex with anyone and never plan too.  Most people never know they have it, which is why it spreads so easily.