I am a registered nurse since 1983. In 1987, I was diagnosed with HPV. Within four short years, the virus had affected my cervix, vagina, and vulva. In 1991, when my daughter was only six weeks old, I was diagnosed with invasive squamous cell cancer of the anus. This required surgical resection, chemo and radiation therapy.
I still continue to deal with recurrences including a current squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum for which I am being treated at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC.
It was discouraging, that after more than two decades many women still knew very little about HPV in addition to the informational gap of those in the healthcare field. In attempt to fill this gap, I have developed an interactive website (anymothersdaughter.com) and just completed a book titled "Any Mother's Daughter" expected out this summer.
The site is certified regarding accurate medical information on the internet to assure those who visit of the validity of the documenation and information listed there. Hopefully this will be a valuable resource for women (especially the newly diagnosed), men and healthcare providers.
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
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The "Questions" section on the website is a new feature and we are in the process of collecting questions to answer on a general questions page to be launched in the future. We are not answering questions individually and I'm sorry if you had that impression. The site has been changed to provide more clarity.
99.7% of cervical cancers are attributable to high risk HPV types. While low risk HPV types can cause cervical dysplasia on occasion these are not the types that go on to cause cancer. So much of this would depend on the degree of your cervical dysplasia at the time. If it was a CIN1 then it could have been caused by either low or high risk HPV. If you could obtain a copy of that pathology report it would be helpful.
Before I address the question about your partner, I'm confused if you had dysplasia and it's been three years why you have had no follow-up in this intervening period of time. You should have been having Pap smears more frequently to follow the dysplasia in the event of any progression.
With that said I do not know if you partner is male or female. Most males are not affected by HPV to the degree women are although they can develop cancers of the penis, urethra and anus from high risk HPV. Low risk HPV can of course cause genital warts but those are typically visible. Since HPV is passed on through skin to skin contact and is easily transmitted chances are your partner would have the virus. Whether or not they have symptoms depends on their individual immune system and how their body handles the virus.
In either case, the both of you should get checked my a medical professional and request the HPV test. While there is no test for men, per se, there is an anal Pap for men which can reveal HPV. It is usually not recommended by doctors unless the man is homosexual or has known exposure to high risk HPV. This could certainly be an option however.
I hope this answers your question.
Bonnie
May 8, 2009 - 10:33amThis Comment
Well I sent a question through your site, but I guess I'll ask here, too...
I was diagnosed with cervical dysplasia probably 3 years ago now. It was suspected it was caused by HPV but no testing for that was done. Since then, I've wondered what risk that poses to my partner if I do have HPV. No one else seemed concerned with it, and I guess because it is so common... But it has been a worry on my mind.
May 8, 2009 - 9:37amThis Comment
Hi Bonnie,
Thank you for sharing your story! What type of HPV were you diagnosed as having, and is it possible to have more than one type (strain) at a time? I have learned that there are the "high risk" strains that can cause abnormalities, including cancer, and the "lower risk" strains that can cause genital warts. Is this still true?
May 7, 2009 - 3:00pmThis Comment
Hi Alison,
Yes there are low and high risk HPV types (strains). The low risk types cause genital warts typically they are types 6 and 11. The high risk types of which there are dozens are the ones which typically go on to produce dysplasia and/or cancer. High risk types 16, 18 and 33 account for 80% of cervical cancers with 45 being a close 4th.
I have been diagnosed with 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33 and 35. As you can see from my history, yes, it is possible to have both low and high risk strains at the same time.
I'd be happy to answer any other questions you may have.
May 7, 2009 - 7:41pmThis Comment