Cervical dysplasia is almost always caused by HPV. Ask your health care provider for more information about your pap result for information specific to your situation.
Abnormal cells and precancerous cells can develop from genetic mutations in normal cells. These mutations can be caused by various factors such as exposure to carcinogens, genetic predisposition, and lifestyle choices. Over time, these abnormal cells can accumulate and potentially progress to cancer if left untreated.
The HPV test that may be done as a followup to an abnormal pap looks for high-risk (cancer causing) HPV. If the test is negative, you don't have high-risk HPV on the cervix, but you may be infected with low risk HPV subtypes, or infected in another location.
Abnormal changes in a pap smear may or may not be related to HPV. Getting information about your specific pap result can help you determine whether HPV is a possible cause.
HPV doesn't have any treatment. Abnormal cells on the cervix caused by HPV usually aren't treated during pregnancy. Some treatments for genital warts are safe during pregnancy. Talk with your health care provicer to clarify your exact diagnosis and options for treatment.
A woman can contract HPV the first time she engages in intercourse. Once a female is sexually active, she should receive regular PAP smears. If the cells are abnormal, it could be HPV. It can occur and be treated at any age.
Abnormal paps almost never mean HIV. While women with HIV are more likely to have abnormal pap smears, most women with abnormal pap smears do not have HIV.
Current recommendations are for women thirty and over to have a combination of Pap smear and HPV test. If both of these are normal, the next pap smear is due in five years. This strategy for screening decreases the number of false positives and false negatives. Talk with your health care provider for advice specific to your situation and history.
No, not necessarily. Cervical cancer is not always caused by the HPV virus and can be for a variety of reasons. Therefore, it is not necessarily because her partner has/had HPV, however this possibility should not be ruled out.
Yes, it is possible to still have HPV after a LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) since the procedure primarily targets abnormal cervical cells rather than the virus itself. While LEEP can remove precancerous lesions caused by HPV, the virus may remain dormant in the body. Most people's immune systems can clear HPV over time, but regular follow-up with your healthcare provider is important to monitor any changes.
Certain "high-risk" subtypes of HPV can cause dysplasia at the cervix, anus, vaginal, throat, vulva, and penis. Not all dysplasia elsewhere in the body is caused by HPV.
Typically, it takes 3 to 6 months for symptoms of HPV to appear. But sometimes it takes years, if at all.Some people will never show symptoms of HPV and often it can clear on it's own.It also depends on the strain of HPV. Some strains can cause genital warts, some can cause an abnormal pap, and some can cause cervical cancer.
Any procedures needed for HPV are determined by the signs and symptoms. If someone has abnormal cells on the cervix, colposcopy and biopsy may be recommended. If the symptoms are warts, no treatment is required unless requested by the patient.