Joined Nov 2003
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Forum Thread
Am I required to disclose this information before having sex?
March 29, 2007 at
05:33 AM
in
Question
My girlfriend was informed by her gynocologist that she has the human papillomavirus, or HPV. It's impossible to tell who had it first, but I'm most likely a carrier now as well. For those of you who don't know, HPV is a virus that's said to be a prerequisite for cervical cancer in women. Men can carry the virus, but it's nearly harmless for them.
Some HPV facts from wikipedia:
Here's my question. Am I required to disclose this information before having relations with another woman? I have a feeling that everyone's kneejerk reaction will be "yes", but please consider the following. There's a huge chance that the woman already has the virus, and if she doesn't already she'll probably get it in the future*. With a condom, she probably won't get it from me anyway. With pap testing, there's a very very low risk of cancer. And quite frankly, I feel that she won't know all the facts and will think it's a bigger deal than it actually is.
Thoughts?
*Genital HPV infection is very common, with estimates suggesting that more than 50% of women will become infected with one or more of the sexually transmitted HPV types at some point during adulthood.[7]
The American Social Health Association projections in 2006 were yet more pessimistic, predicting that about 75% of the reproductive population will have been infected with genital HPV infection in their lifetime.
Some HPV facts from wikipedia:
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Quote
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HPV is the most common sexual transmitted infection in the United States. In the United States approximately 20-million people are currently infected with HPV about 6.2 million Americans will get infected with genital HPV this year.24.5% prevalence of HPV among females 14 to 19 years old 44.8% prevalence of HPV among females 20 to 24 years old 27.4% prevalence of HPV among females 25 to 29 years old 27.5% prevalence of HPV among females 30 to 39 years old 25.2% prevalence of HPV among females 40 to 49 years old 19.6% prevalence of HPV among females 50 to 59 years old In the absence of Pap testing or treatment, about 1% of women with genital HPV infections will eventually go on to develop cervical cancer. Women who have Pap testing or other cervical cancer screenings on a regular basis dramatically decrease their chances of developing cervical cancer. A 2006 study of 82 college students suggests that condoms can be up to 70% effective for preventing genital HPV infection if used for every sexual encounter. |
Thoughts?
*Genital HPV infection is very common, with estimates suggesting that more than 50% of women will become infected with one or more of the sexually transmitted HPV types at some point during adulthood.[7]
The American Social Health Association projections in 2006 were yet more pessimistic, predicting that about 75% of the reproductive population will have been infected with genital HPV infection in their lifetime.
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HPV can be serious. I know, I ended up with cervical cancer because of it.
When I found out I was pregnant with my last child, my pap came back abnormal. I have had to go for a pap every THREE months for the past FOUR year. I had a colposcopy every 3 months, even through my pregnancy. I had my daughter in Oct. 2003 and in Jan. 2005 it had advanced from dysplasia to cancer (very early stage.) I had a LEEP, which was HORRIBLE. The procedure itself wasn't painful to me. I was awake the entire time and had it done in my GYN's office. It was the lidocaine injected into my cervix before that did me in. It made my heart race SO bad I felt like I was having a heart attack. That sent me into a panic attack and caused me to hyperventilate.
I had some light cramping for a few days after but nothing major. For me, the worst part was the lidocaine injections before.
It has been almost 2.5 years since the LEEP and I still receive paps every 3 months. Thankfully, they've all been normal since I had the LEEP. But, I already dicussed with my GYN that if one ever comes back abnormal again I'm not messing around with another LEEP. It'll be a hysterectomy for me since I'm done having kids. BTW, it's definitely possible to get pregnant and carry a baby to term if you have HPV, I did. It's also possible to have cervical biopsies while pregnant, I did every 3 months for the entire 9 months. And, it's possible to have a baby after having a LEEP and happens quite often.
I would bet my bank account that there's A LOT more women on this board that have HPV that aren't willing to admit it or don't know they have it. I have never shown any signs of having HPV other than the abnormal cervical cells.
I have two daughters and they'll both receive the vaccination again HPV when they're old enough.
Lastly, HPV can hit anyone. I'm far from a slut. Shit, I haven't even had sex in well over a year. And for the record, since having my LEEP, my GYN tells me all the time how pretty my cervix looks
Oh, one more thing. I don't know if it's different depending on what doctor you see, but my GYN told me they don't even test for HPV unless you've had an abnormal pap. So, those of you that have said you know for sure you don't have it, you might want to make sure your GYN even tests for it routinely. It's my understanding a lot of doctor's don't test for HPV unless there's a reason to (abnormal pap.) And, you can still have HPV and have a normal pap, depending on how long you've had HPV.
It's also not fun to have a clamp placed on one's cervix while wide awake
Not sure the men here really understand the sheer number of medical procedure's women endure, in the name of healthiness and or sickness or disease
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BUT, I'm a HUGE nag about women getting their yearly exams (and make sure your GYN tests for HPV.) Had I not gotten pregnant the last time, who knows what would have happened. It had been 4 years since my last pap before I got pregnant.
Exciting news (for me anyways lol) If my last pap I just had comes back normal, I get to graduate to paps every 6 months!!!!! I think I've paid my dues in stir-ups for a lifetime
Women apparently have a test.... guys don't have a test unless they break out in warts.
I went to a Dr and asked to be tested even though I didn't have any signs... the doctor laughed and asked "why?"
It's also not fun to have a clamp placed on one's cervix while wide awake
Not sure the men here really understand the sheer number of medical procedure's women endure, in the name of healthiness and or sickness or disease
Women apparently have a test.... guys don't have a test unless they break out in warts.
I went to a Dr and asked to be tested even though I didn't have any signs... the doctor laughed and asked "why?"
You don't have to agree with my or my opinion, but that's what it is. An opinion.
At the moment, there is no test approved to detect HPV in men.
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At the moment, there is no test approved to detect HPV in men.
The most basic test is knowing you dipped your willie into a sump pump that already has HPV