HPV Support Group
Human papillomavirus is a diverse group of DNA-based viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes of humans. More than 100 different human papillomavirus (HPV) types have been characterized. Some HPV types cause benign skin warts, or papillomas, for which the virus family is named. HPVs associated with the development of such "common warts" are transmitted...
hey! So I noticed bumps on my genital area last July, but ignored it and hoped they’d go away. I didn’t want my parents finding out I was sexually active, and they got BAD. I eventually told my parents and in december went to an OBGYN and after going to 3 different doctors one referred me to a surgeon. Fast forward I had a surgery to remove all the growths and basically reconstruct my whole vagina area. The doctor said that it was about 20% chance for it to come back, and if I get the HPV shot it’ll help lower the chances. I’m just curious, is my sex life over? Will I always have this virus and constantly be at risk of it coming back and/or spreading it to future partners? Also, does anyone have any advice on what to do to prevent bumps from coming back? Any advice is appreciated
Have you already removed the growth through surgery or not?.. If yes, do you again have the growths?
Remember that - HPV stays in your body FOREVER - it can either be active or inactive depending on your immune system's ability to suppress the virus. So YES YOU ARE ALWAYS FOREVER POTENTIALLY CONTAGIOUS AND CAN INFECT OTHERS! There is no precise test that can determine the exact moment in time your body changes from inactive to active. You can have inactive HPV on Tuesday and then active HPV on Wednesday so in my opinion - you are ALWAYS potentially contagious and have the moral obligation to inform ANY AND ALL future intimate partners BEFORE you have any sexual contact with them whatsoever. There is currently no HPV test for men so men can HPV without even knowing it and spread it to everyone they have intimate contact with. HPV isnt just a woman's problem - men can and do get HPV related cancers and the warts caused by HPV so BOTH men and women have the responsibility to INFORM ALL POTENTIAL FUTURE PARTNERS BEFORE THEY HAVE ANY INTIMATE CONTACT WHATSOEVER. THEY NEED TO KNOW THE GENUINE RISKS AND CONSEQUENCES OF BEING INTIMATE WITH YOU BEFORE THEY MAKE THE DECISION TO DO SO!
OFTENTIMES there are NO SYMPTOMS OR SIGNS whatsoever present- NONE! So you cannot rely on symptoms or outward signs of warts or any body signal that your HPV is currently active or not. A woman can have a negative HPV test with her pap smear on Monday but you could become active the next day on Tuesday and have absolutely no way of knowing. Your present moment HPV status is indeterminable from moment to moment so the responsible course of action is to proceed with the notion that you are always potentially going to infect everyone you come in intimate contact with.
HPV lives in the skin cells of the entire genital area - not just the penis and the vagina so CONDOMS DO NOT PROVIDE 100% PROTECTION. Even if you use a condom correctly, every single time, you can STILL get HPV. The HPV viruses can be spread with oral, anal, and vaginal sex AND with no sex at all, just intimate contact with the genital area. My boyfriend ended up getting warts on his scrotum, base of the penis and pubic hair region of his pelvis - none of which is covered by a condom so remember condoms do NOT provide 100% protection from HPV. You can use condoms and STILL get HPV!
Once you have the HPV virus you cannot be "re-infected" with the exact same strain because once you have it, you have it forever BUT remember there are over 150 DIFFERENT strains of HPV so your warts could have been caused by strain # 6 and if you have sex with someone that has strain #11 you can get infected with that strain also and get warts over again. Same concept with the high risk strains of HPV linked with cancer - you could have the high risk strain #16 and then later have contact with someone that has high risk strain #18 and get re-infected again!
Science has shown that the determining factor on whether your HPV is either active or inactive is your own personal immunity. Sufficient sleep, moderate exercise for a minimum of 150 minutes per week, no alcohol, no smoking (or vaping), reducing sugar, eating healthy - a high fiber, low fat diet with minimal processed foods and lots of vegetables and fruit, low stress levels and fun (yes, fun) all have been shown to assist in supporting the immune system.
I have BOTH high risk strains and low risk strains of HPV. The man that gave HPV to me had ZERO symptoms and no outward signs of HPV or any infection. He genuinely did not know he was infected with any kind of HPV and he ended up passing it on to me!! HPV HAS CAUSED ME HORRIFIC EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL DAMAGE - I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON MEDICAL BILLS AND HAD TO MISS TIME OFF WORK FOR DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS AND MEDICAL PROCEDURES!!! I WOULD NEVER WANT TO DO THIS DAMAGE TO ANYONE - NOT EVER - IT HAS CAUSED ME SEVERE PAIN AND DAMAGE - EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY AND FINANCIALLY WHICH IS WHY I STRONGLY AND EMPHATICALLY URGE ANYONE WITH A HISTORY OF HPV TO DO THE RIGHT THING: INFORM AND EDUCATE ALL PEOPLE BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY INTIMATE CONTACT WITH THEM! THEY NEED TO KNOW ALL THE FACTS BEFORE THEY MAKE THE DECISION TO BE INTIMATE WITH YOU BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF BECOMING INFECTED WITH HPV ARE SERIOUSLY DAMAGING!
The unvarnished truth is....HPV has genuine and serious risks!! HPV causes most cervical cancers, as well as some cancers of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus, rectum, and oropharynx (cancers of the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils).
There are SIGNIFICANT emotional, physical and financial consequences of HPV - the cost of repeat doctor visits for pap smears and HPV tests, colposcopy, LEEP, laser therapy, cryotherapy, lazer conization, and missed time from work. Those with HPV warts have the cost of repeat doctor visits, wart removal procedures (liquid nitrogen, curettage, electrosurgery, excision) wart creams, etc HPV warts can be very itchy, burning, and painful and HPV warts can disrupt daily life. Many people with HPV have the emotional suffering of depression, anxiety, panic, disrupted sleep, anger, frustration, and overall general despair.
HPV IS NOT TRIVIAL! HPV SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY OR BRUSHED OFF LIKE IT IS NO BIG DEAL.... HPV IS A BIG DEAL!!!
It upsets me greatly when I hear people minimize and trivialize HPV. The consequences of being infected with HPV are seriously damaging - physically, financially, and emotionally.
I strongly believe that anyone that knows they have HPV should have the basic decency to fully inform and educate anyone that they are planning on being intimate with. HPV is spread by skin to skin contact so BEFORE there is any skin to skin contact, you need to discuss the GENUINE RISKS AND DANGERS so that your potential partner can make an informed choice and you do not inflict substantial pain and suffering on another person by giving them the HPV you wish you didnt have. It is basic decency to not harm others.