The Doc Is In: Dealing with HPV

March 4, 2010 2:00 pm     Posted in Body, Relationships, Sex  Candy -- NYU g+ page

Got a health question? Don’t trust those “Doctors” at the University Health Center? Are you scared of Web M.D. because it always tells you you’re gonna die? Ask a real doctor, like our friend Dr. Lissa Rankin. She’s here every Thursday to answer whatever you throw at her – even peeing after sex – so ask away. Leave your question in the comments or send it over to us. Don’t be shy; she’s waiting for ya!


By Candy

Q: I am 23-years-old and have been with my boyfriend for 6 years. I got the Gardasil shot last year and my paps have been fine until I got my last Gardasil shot. The doctor told me my pap was abnormal a couple months after my 3rd shot. Was the shot what caused the adnormal pap? The other doctor took a look and did not find anything so she did not do a biospy.

I went back 8 months later and she found a small wart and removed it. I do not know what to do or how to feel? Should I worry now that I have HPV? Should I stop having sex? My boyfriend has not had any problem and I heard that they can not be tested anyway. What can I do to prevent getting warts? Sorry to ask, but we have been having oral sex as well does that mean we both have it in our mouth? I just do not understand what I did wrong. I have been on birth control as well. PLEASE HELP… I only been having sex with one person for 6 years but I feel so helpless.

A: I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with an abnormal Pap smear and HPV. But believe me- you’re not alone. Up to 80% of us will contract HPV at some point in our life, and HPV vaccination isn’t perfect. Gardasil only guards against the four most common strains of HPV, but there are many more.

No, the vaccine didn’t give you HPV or cause your abnormal Pap smear. It doesn’t work that way. It may simply have been given too late.  You may have contracted HPV before you received the full series of vaccinations and the virus is just wreaking havoc now. There’s no way to know whether you already had HPV or whether you just caught it, but it’s a strain the vaccine doesn’t cover.

As for how you feel, feel whatever it is you genuinely feel. Don’t beat yourself up about it. You’re one of many who deals with this every day. But I certainly understand if you feel embarrassed, ashamed, betrayed, or bummed out.  Contracting a sexually transmitted infection has a way of making you feel about two inches tall. (I know. I caught HPV too. It can happen to anyone.)

Should you stop having sex? That’s a personal decision. It’s entirely possible that your boyfriend gave you the HPV in the first place since you’ve only had sex with one person. When I was diagnosed with an abnormal Pap smear for the first time and told the guy who is now my husband, he said, “That’s so weird! All of my girlfriends have had abnormal Pap smear.” Duh, dude. It’s you! So your guy probably already has it and most likely gave it to you.

You certainly should tell him about your diagnosis. And condoms can help protect you from transmitting it if you wind up in future relationships. But even condoms aren’t perfect, since infectious vulvar skin can still touch exposed scrotal or perineal skin, putting you at risk. To some degree, you just have to do the best you can and surrender the rest to the Universe.

Can it cause oral warts? Yes. Very rarely, HPV can cause warts on the larynx, but these are extremely uncommon.

Remember, you did nothing wrong, sweetie. You got the vaccination, have been careful to select a partner, and care enough to ask these questions. You should be proud of yourself for being so aware, so conscientious, and so health-conscious. I’m sorry you’re in this situation and I understand that you feel helpless, but I know you’re going to be okay.

Find out more about HPV here.

Wishing you peace and health,
Dr. Lissa

- Dr. Lissa Rankin’s book, What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend, will be published by St. Martin’s Press in Fall 2010. She invites you to join her Pink online community (www.owningpink.com/forum) or read more of her writing at Owning Pink (www.owningpink.com).

9 Comments on "The Doc Is In: Dealing with HPV"

  1. Rachel- University o says:
    Fri, 5th Mar 20105:36 pm 

    Were you going to mention to her that there's an 80% chance her boyfriend cheated within 10 months of her abnormal pap? Sorry girl.
    Don't beat yourself up- 6 years is a long time for your age.
    Also, the "leave it up to the universe" advise? Really? Talk about unsafe and unethical. Not only are condoms helpful for future relationships, but she should also protect her future partners by TELLING THEM about her sexual health. If a partner knew there was an outbreak or a wart rubbing against his balls putting him at risk, he would be pissed. I know I would.

  2. Doug says:
    Sun, 7th Mar 20101:25 pm 

    What is not commonly fully understood about HPV are three things:

    1) It's extremely common. By some studies 75% of women will contract in by their 4th year in college.

    2) It's usually harmless. The overwhelming majority of the time it doesn't cause genital warts or PAP smear results. Even when it does the warts can be removed as can the precancerous growth, as long as one doesn't wait TOO long. It's very slow to develop into infertility causing cancer when it does. And even slower to develop into incurable cancer.

    3) The vast majority of people who contact a strain of the virus will a)cure themselves from having any symptoms (other than the presence of antibodies which is how we know so many women have contracted an HPV virus) and b) in so doing automatically create an immunity to that strain or combination of strains of HPV. That's one of the reason that it's often not recommended that women over 26 get the shot, but it is recommended for girls down to 12 years old. (The hope is before intercourse or even pubes to pubes contact. It is true that another part of the reason it isn't yet recommended that older women or men be vaccinated is the cost of doing so. The cost of the course of three shots is around 1500 to the insurance company, or if they don't cover it e.g. for straight men, the man.)

  3. Doug says:
    Mon, 8th Mar 20107:34 pm 

    In other words, the only reason to vaccinate women or eventually men (who much more rarely suffer from serious symptoms and never suffer from infertility as a result, but can in relatively rare windows of infection before natural antibody immunity and suppression infect women) is to remove the very, very small likelihood that HPV viruses will lead to serious problems in women before regular checkups reliably reverse those problems.

    It's a very rich nation problem only to have, and very female mostly focused one, at great expense.

    Annual pap smears and inspection for genital warts is far more cost effective, and the way to go in any event even with vaccination for the sexually active. Besides it's still necessary after vaccination which only deals with 4 of 60 I believe strains of HPV, though most less virulent that those 4.

    I.e. this is a panic, by and large. An element of truth but only that.

  4. Laura says:
    Wed, 2nd Feb 20113:01 pm 

    My boyfriend and I just started dating. We have fooled around a bit, but have not had sex- oral or otherwise. He recently told me he had HPV from a previous relationship, and had an occasional wart (which he had removed). I am planning to get the vaccine before sleeping with him, and we will definitely use a condom and I am on the pill. But I wanted to know, what are the risks of sleeping with him and the chances of me getting HPV? And if I do get HPV, what is going to happen to me?

    Hoping for Advice. Thank you.

  5. Meghan says:
    Fri, 18th Feb 20117:58 am 

    This is ENTIRELY INCORRECT. 80% chance he cheated? First of all, that is a bogus statistic and second of all, HPV can lay dormant for years. I advise you keep your mouth shut it you don't know what you are talking about.

  6. Meghan says:
    Fri, 18th Feb 20118:05 am 

    Oh, and judging by your awful comment and the "not so scientific" approach, my guess is you are some cynical girl who got cheated on herself and like to see other go through the same agony that you did because nothing about your comment was accurate or worth even saying. Perhaps you were knowingly put at risk like your third paragraph scenario you so horribly described?
    It's a shame that people like you have the right to post comments like this on the internet. due to: making up statistics, exaggerating, and encouraging false information.
    Don't worry. I've already reported you along with a medical study that PROVES your comment to be completely inaccurate. You should feel ashamed by your ignorance and your rather large mouth.

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