Hpv?

danyellowlea

I was recently told that I have hpv and I'm not sure how to feel about it. My entire pregnancy I thought I was experiencing skin tags growing because I heard that is common, however it was hpv and I was not told until my last weeks visit. Even though I have asked before and got examined, I was always told it was just bacteria.
I don't know if this will pass to my baby Dustin delivery or what? Anyone with advice or a similar story would be very much appreciated. :-<

danyellowlea

My baby during delivery*

Miz_Liz

First, breath, HPV is VERY common and as long as you are keeping up with your regular paps, you should be fine. Depending on if they find abnormal cells during a pap they may do a coloscopy and examine the cells further to determine if you are at risk of developing cancer. They can even do tests now to see what strands of HPV you have as some are more dangerous than others with regards to cancer risks. Your OB may want you to do paps every 6 months depending on what they find and your particular case, or they may be fine with you staying with annuals. I had HPV and had the high risk strand (or one of). My coloscopy showed I had abnormal cells that were as close to cancer as they could be without actually being cancer, so my Dr did a LEEP back in February. I now test negative for HPV (but I did have it for years). Many women test negative for it after a few years without any treatment. I was still positive for it when I had DS and he had no issues. There is very little risk of passing it on to your child during child birth and even if you do, most babies can fight it off on their own. Talk to your Dr about it if you are stressing, they should be able to help put your mind at ease. Some types can cause genital warts, but not all - mine never did. Also, childbirth itself can actually clear your cervix of a lot of abnormal cells, etc., so often a Dr wants to wait to see what happens after birth. Again, I would definitely have a conversation with your Dr, but again, it is VERY common and in most cases NBD as long as you stay current on your paps so that they detect any changes in cells early.

Miz_Liz

Also, your skin tags probably have no relation to the HPV at all, they are usually correlated with hormones - as stated above, I am now negative for HPV and I still get the skin tags during pregnancy - loads of fun!

Jeslanky

I had this happen to me a few weeks ago. It's been driving me crazy! I wanted to make a post on here but felt gross & that I would be judged, although, DH is the only man I've been with. I also thought I had skin tags & when I asked my doctor she said they were warts & that I have HPV. I'm soooo worried about passing it to baby. There are not a lot of warts, so my doctor said we'll wait til closer to due date to recommend c section or not. I didn't have a c section with DS, so I always imagined having DD vaginally as well. This all has really bummed me out about labor. I don't really have much advice to give besides that I read it is very common. Like 1in 4 people have it & a lot of people don't know they have it. My doctor told me it could stay in your body for years with no symptoms.

amk013

To add to the HPV is very common theme, the guidelines of screening women has actually changed from once a year to every 3 years. This is because HPV is so common during the "high risk" range of early 20s to mid 30s. Most women clear it on there own and really don't need to have interventions. Cervical cancer is slow growing, so that's another reason for the reduction in screening years. I don't think you can pass it to your baby.

danyellowlea

Yes I am really terrified about passing it to my baby during delivery considering I do have warts, not many but they're there. I feel so conflicted about it. I want to have a bagjnal delivery considering this is my first child but my doctors haven't said anything about my chances of passing it to the baby. I'm just worried that they won't go away after delivery. I have never had abnormal paps or any warts before until my second trimester.. It's just disheartening to think about labor when I'm not sure what to expect and worrying about giving my baby a disease.

danyellowlea

Vaginal*

4foxsake

It is highly unlilely you will pass this during delivery. a csection is not reccommended for warts unless you have soo many that they are blocking the vaginal canal.  Your baby will be fine and so will you.  

Gardengoodness

My husband and I found out we both have hpv 6 years ago. Other then one small outbreak he has never had a problem again. I, on the other hand, have been through a LEEP, three coponoscopy procedures and a large wart removal during pregnancy that required stitches (that was terrifying to say the least). Other then one early outbreak and the large growth that appeared while I was pregnant (and thankfully hasn't come back!) I haven't had any other issues I just have to stay monitored every 6 months or so for the rest of my life... HPV never goes away, it just sometimes goes dormant. There is no "curing it" and it can reappear through out a lifetime depending on a variety of factors from stress, immune system function and which strains you have (some can cause warts, some can lead to cancer if not monitored and some people carry it with no symptoms). From what my ultrasound technician said almost a third of pregnant women she sees these days have some strain of it so it's a lot more common then people admit. Few people in my life know I have it or what I've gone through with it but I have peace of mind knowing that it is common and the baby will be fine. I'm even allowed to have a vaginal home birth anytime after this week! So take a breath ladies, your bodies are very capable and if there is any reason to be concerned in any hpv case the doctors and/or midwives will let you know. Sending hugs because I know firsthand how hard and frustrating this diagnosis is but as long as you accept you aren't alone and keep getting yourself checked (even after baby) you will be ok.

Jeslanky

My doctor scared me when she told me that if there are any warts in the canal or the bottom of vagina (where babys mouth/nose would rub) during delivery that baby can contract it, which could lead to not only hpv but a different type of disease or cancer (I can't exactly remember) that affects her lungs. Of course she said that the chances are very low but I would never want to give my sweet baby a condition she would have to live with the rest of her life. She just said that she can examine me and give her best judgment. (Right now there are only a couple that are a bit lower than the opening at the bottom of my lady parts & none that she can see or feel in the canal. It's all just really stressful.

danyellowlea

Thanks so much for the advice and support. I don't know anyone who has went through this and don't really feel comfortable asking for such information in person, so this has really helped me.

Gardengoodness

I know it is terrifying ladies and very solitary in a lot of ways but just stay positive and know that having it is super common and the chances of it affecting your baby are extremely low. If a quarter to a third of women of child bearing age are thought to carry some strain of it and it commonly caused serious issues with babies everyone would be able to list countless examples... Most people don't even admit to having it (let's be honest "hey I have genital warts" isn't really summer barbecue with friends type conversation...) but it is out there and your health care professionals will let you know if there's any reason to treat things differently. Best bet is to focus on being healthy and happy and trying to get through to the end of the pregnancy countdown without guilting yourselves and stressing too much Good luck!

heidi8992

I had two skin tags in my groin area, small and skin colored and they grew into bigger warts. I had talked to my doctor about it an she said they were fine just another pregnancy symptom. After talking to a friends aunt she said she had HPV that became dormant during all her pregnancies and that the warts went right away. That week I had went back to my doctor and asked her if I could have HPV. She again told me no. But now after reading your post it makes me a little nervous! Why would the doctor just now the you you have HPV? I was under the assumption that because all my Pap tests have been normal I didn't have it. Is there something I'm missing? Do the have to do a special test? Also, when do you plan on having the warts removed, if at all?

Jeslanky

@heidi8992 My paps came back normal as well. I guess as long as it's dormant it doesn't show. I've never had any sort of growth until I was in my second trimester. & then I thought they were skin tags until a few appointments ago, they just slowly started popping up. I don't have a lot but it bothers me to have them at all. I've read that Sometimes they go away on their own, but there are some treatments you can do while pregnant. I believe an acid you apply or having the doctor apply a medication. Being so close to my due date I will wait until after baby is here bc that's just one less thing I need to worry about down there & it can take months to remove them with treatment.

Perfect Sonnet

I just want to reiterate the HPV is really common.  Most of my female friends (including myself) have it.  Also, I am not sure than skin tags have anything to do with it.  Whenever I have spoken to my OB-GYNs about it in the past, I have always just gotten a "meh, everyone has HPV."  When I found out I had it about 7-ish years ago, I had irregular cervical cells and had to have a Leep to remove part of my cervix.  It has never been an issue for either of my pregnancies or the birth of my first.

bhargrave88

Just want to say to the poster who said cervical cancer was the slowest moving cancer, that this is not always the case. I had my DD in 2012, and was fine before that. I had Mirena placed at my post partum visit, and removed it 8 months later due to constant bleeding and infections and itching . I had my stuff done shortly after. I then needed a colposcopy because my cells were bad. Biopsy revealed CIN2 (precancerous). They did an hpv DNa test, it was positive for low grade low risk hpv(I just found this out like a month ago!). I elected to have a leep just because my hubby would freak out with worry if it was just in there brewing as he's lost many family to cancer. I literally had my leep done a week later. Biopsy showed precancerous cells on my outer cervix, cancerous cells (cin3) all inside my cervix where the Mirena was, my official results read as "carcinoma in situ of the cervix due to unspecified reasons". My doctor has had my case shared with medical students and fellow doctors because it doesn't usually grow that fast , but IT CAN HAPPEN ladies, so pleaseeeee take it seriously. While it isn't common to have cells change that fast, it CAN happen. I would have never thought I would have had cancer at 25. I'm so thankful my doctor agreed to do the procedure rather than wait 6 more months with the wait and see approach. I would have been on chemo by then. Scary thought

I've tested negative and had normal Paps ever since my leep, they will be checking me again at my postpartum visit. As it can be refueled by pregnancy hormones.

gemmafig

There is a test for HPV that your OB can perform with you Pap. It isnt done usually, unless you are over 30. Unless the test is done, or you have an abnormal pap, or an out break you may never know you are HPV positive.
It never "goes away" it just goes dormant.

Also, it is one of those tests that can have false positive results. So, further exams can be done if your doctor thinks it is warrented.

danyellowlea

@heidi8992 I was just given a pap and it showed I had abnormal cells and then in my second trimester I developed warts. I don't have many but it's uncomfortable to know I have them at all. The doctor said that they will most likely go away on their own but if not we will do treatment to remove them.
However the initial point of this post was to ask if I would pass the warts onto my baby and I had her on Subday and she is perfect

heidi8992

Congratulations on your healthy baby girl!!!

danyellowlea

Thank you so much! Good luck on your delivery! @heidi8992