I am sorry that you are feeling so frustrated and wanting more answers.
To answer your last question first: your OB/GYN is right that there are testing guidelines, and I am not sure what help a third HPV test would provide? If your 2nd test was negative, you can assume your third test would be as well. HPV works in this way: your body suppresses the virus and is no longer "found" on a test.
There are also false-positives and false-negatives in tests, so you are also correct. I've provided some more information below:
Facts about HPV Test:
- With any test, you are right: there are going to be false-positives and false-negatives. False-positives when detecting the actual strains of virus (HPV) are rare (compared to the HPV test falsely detecting abnormal cells in the cervix -that are actually normal, as this type of false-positive is more common)
- You can certainly be tested positive for HPV during one test, then receive a negative result at your next test. The "low-risk" strains of HPV actually do go away on their own and/or becomes inactive (and the virus in your body may have been on its way out for a while, which is why the 23 days later can make sense).
Facts about HPV:
- HPV transmission can happen without sexual intercourse, and occurs with any kind of skin-to-skin sexual contact with someone who has HPV. According to the National Cancer Institute, "nonsexual transmission of HPVs is rare".
- It is usually not possible to know when a person got HPV or who gave it to them. HPV may be found right away or not until many years later.
What do you think of this additional information?
May I ask you a few more questions about your emotional response to your results and the outrage toward the health care providers?
1. If you are happily married to this man for 20 years, does it really matter what he did or didn't do before you were married? Why is this affecting your well-being, if you were re-tested and negative for HPV? The majority (80%) of all sexually active individuals have HPV, and I'm not understanding how it has been taken to this level of word usage: "horrible thing to do to a person" and "affecting my well-being" and "need to put issue to rest". When reading these word choices and underlying emotion, compared to your actual test results, I am not seeing the connection.
2. If your test is one of the rare false-positives, I hope you are not taking out your frustrations (and fear) on your health care providers and lab technicians. I did not see that they did anything "wrong" or "offensive" but provide you with information and results, and sounds like you put the emotion into through your assumption that they suggested you or your husband had other sexual encounters; they were providing you with facts, and then you filled in the blanks on your own.
I hope to hear back from you, and am happy to hear that you received great test results and hope you continue having a happy marriage for the next 20 years!
Comment Reply
I am sorry that you are feeling so frustrated and wanting more answers.
To answer your last question first: your OB/GYN is right that there are testing guidelines, and I am not sure what help a third HPV test would provide? If your 2nd test was negative, you can assume your third test would be as well. HPV works in this way: your body suppresses the virus and is no longer "found" on a test.
There are also false-positives and false-negatives in tests, so you are also correct. I've provided some more information below:
Facts about HPV Test:
- With any test, you are right: there are going to be false-positives and false-negatives. False-positives when detecting the actual strains of virus (HPV) are rare (compared to the HPV test falsely detecting abnormal cells in the cervix -that are actually normal, as this type of false-positive is more common)
- You can certainly be tested positive for HPV during one test, then receive a negative result at your next test. The "low-risk" strains of HPV actually do go away on their own and/or becomes inactive (and the virus in your body may have been on its way out for a while, which is why the 23 days later can make sense).
Facts about HPV:
- HPV transmission can happen without sexual intercourse, and occurs with any kind of skin-to-skin sexual contact with someone who has HPV. According to the National Cancer Institute, "nonsexual transmission of HPVs is rare".
- It is usually not possible to know when a person got HPV or who gave it to them. HPV may be found right away or not until many years later.
What do you think of this additional information?
May I ask you a few more questions about your emotional response to your results and the outrage toward the health care providers?
1. If you are happily married to this man for 20 years, does it really matter what he did or didn't do before you were married? Why is this affecting your well-being, if you were re-tested and negative for HPV? The majority (80%) of all sexually active individuals have HPV, and I'm not understanding how it has been taken to this level of word usage: "horrible thing to do to a person" and "affecting my well-being" and "need to put issue to rest". When reading these word choices and underlying emotion, compared to your actual test results, I am not seeing the connection.
2. If your test is one of the rare false-positives, I hope you are not taking out your frustrations (and fear) on your health care providers and lab technicians. I did not see that they did anything "wrong" or "offensive" but provide you with information and results, and sounds like you put the emotion into through your assumption that they suggested you or your husband had other sexual encounters; they were providing you with facts, and then you filled in the blanks on your own.
I hope to hear back from you, and am happy to hear that you received great test results and hope you continue having a happy marriage for the next 20 years!
September 1, 2009 - 2:39pmThis Comment
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