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Hi Anon

Thanks for your question!

Your chances are pretty good that HPV will go away on it's own. Most cases do. Others can, unfortunately, lead to cervical cancer, which is why annual pap tests and HPV tests are very important. And reinfection is also an issue.

A culposcopy is very like a pap test. You will be in the same position and it may be a little uncomfortable, like a pap test but the discomfort of that exam chair is often more emotional for us, rather than physical. No-one likes those stirrups!

The exam will be to examine the abnormal cells that the HPV has caused. Your doctor will use a kind of medical microscope to do this (called a culposcope, hence the name "culposcopy) .

After this exam (which will only take about 10 minutes) she and you can decide what do to next - based on the level of cell dysplasia you have.

You may elect to have the cells frozen off, which is usually quite successful or you may elect to have further pap tests (usually every 3-6 months) for a couple of years, until you become negative again.

Most experts believe that up to 90% of cases will clear up on their own within 24 months of infection. Do you know when you were infected?

Until then, make sure you are very careful when with a new partner (if that is the case) and remember that it is spread via skin-to-skin contact so condoms do not offer the same kind of protection that they do for other STDs/STIs. You will be able to transmit the virus.

Are you under the age of 26? You can ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine. I am not sure if you can, based on the fact that you currently have HPV but she can help you further. Some women want the vaccine, some do not. Research your options carefully.

Your chances of this clearing up are good! Keep being proactive and keep up the testing. A healthy diet and healthy immune system will be your best friend.

And keep up posted - good luck with your exam next week. Make sure your doctor fully explains your cell changes and your game plan for recovery.

First off, I'd like to correct the record and say that the procedure is a colposcopy and a colposcope is what is used to perform this procedure. A colposcopy can be done to examine not only the cervix, but the vagina and external genitalia as well. If after applying the acetic acid (equivalent of white vinegar) the doctor will look for acetowhitening. Because the abnormal cells contain high amounts of protein and lower amounts of glycogen, they absorb the acetic acid which coagulates the protein turning it white and visible for the doctor. Typically, the only way to determine the extent of the dysplasia is to do a biopsy at that point (so you'll typically have to wait for those results before deciding on treatment).

Also, HPV not only affects the cervix but can also affect the vagina, vulva, labia, peroneal area and anus as well so the Pap test is not the only thing you need to be concerned about.

You did not mention a Pap in relation to your HPV diagnosis so I won't presume. It's also almost impossible to determine at what point you became infected because more often than not symptoms are minor and go unnoticed. While studies have shown that HPV typically is absent 12-18 months after initial diagnosis this does not mean you are cured of the virus. Your docs nurse needs to do a bit more reading! It may become asymptomatic however there is no cure and you may experience symptoms months, years or even decades later so be vigilent.

To answer the question regarding, "what are my chances that my HPV will just go away".

There are 100 types of HPV, some infect the genital area and cause warts, some cause mild cervical cell changes that do not turn into cancer, and some cause cervical cell changes that (over time) can become cervical cancer.

You have probably heard that "most cases of HPV just go away on their own" because HPV is the most common STD/STI, and anywhere from 70-80% of sexually active women will have been infected with HPV in their lifetime. And, we know that 80% of women do not have cervical cancer, cervical cell changes and/or genital warts...so yes, your body is able to "clear up" some types of HPV on its own (similar to a cold virus). It really depends what type of HPV you have been infected with, and I'm happy to hear that you are already seeing a doctor for treatment (many women do not know they even have HPV, because there are no symptoms many times). So, congratulations on taking care of your body and health!

Of these 70-80% of women who have been infected with HPV, only a small number will need treatment for the cell changes caused by the HPV. So, your doctor performing the colposcopy is looking for the cell changes, may perform a biopsy on some tissue, to see what the next step for treatment is, if any, is required.

Please know that only very rarely does the presence of HPV lead to cervical cancer, but I just wanted you to know that HPV can lead to this, if left untreated.

You can read more about HPV and its treatment at the American Social Health Association STD website.

We wish you the best; I would love to hear about your colposcopy procedure, if you are interested in helping other women who may be going through the same thing you are. And, let us know if you would like any information on contraceptive options, including condoms or other barrier methods. Be safe and take care!

Thanks for all of the great info, everyone. I think I caught the HPV very, very early. I'd been in a monogomous relationship for my entire adult life so far, and after we broke up I started dating someone just a few months ago. Because of his many past relationships, I felt that it was wise to test for STD's when I went in for my annual pap last week. My pap smear came back normal, and I'm negative for all other STD's, however I'm positive for HPV. I'm glad my doctor is going to do a colposcopy, and soon, so that I can stay on top of this. I'm sad to be middle-aged and suddenly exposed to an STD. Younger women have the Gardasil vaccine, but we older women who start to date again don't have that kind of protection. Cervical cancer scares me, as I have a family member who has fought it, and it's not pleasant. I'm hoping my HPV will just go away.... I'll let you wonderful women know about how my colposcopy goes. It's in a couple of weeks.