Your doctor has just informed you that you have been exposed to Human Papillomavirus. Your pap smear may have been normal or it may have been abnormal. First of all, do not panic. You do not have cervical cancer or an incurable disease. However, you are going to need close follow up so that the virus does not progressively invade your cervix.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus. It comes in 100 + different types. Approximately 25 -40 percent of sexually active women and men carry the virus. It is extremely common. Men, fortunately, do not develop testicular or penile cancer from HPV; however, they can pass the sexually transmitted disease onto women through unprotected intercourse. The most benign types are HPV #6 and #11. These are the causative agents of condyloma or warts. Both you and your sexual partner can develop warts. Warts need to be burned off with acid or frozen off with cryotherapy (these can both be done in a doctor’s office.
The high risk types of HPV are types 16, 18, 31 and 33. If you have been sexually exposed to these types of HVP, it may cause changes in your cervix known as cervical dysplasia. Cervical dysplasia involves the way in which the nucleus of your cervical cells looks to a pathologist under a microscope.
Since a pap smear is only a screening test for cervical cancer, you must undergo a follow up colposcopy or examination of the cervix and vagina under a microscope to see whether or not the human papillomavirus has infected your cervix. If the cervical biopsy returns LOW GRADE DYSPLASIA (LSIL), you will need close follow ups with Pap smears every four months for one year. LSIL will clear up in 85% of women within one year if you take a good multivitamin ( I recommend GNC’s mega women’s one a day vitamin) and Coenzyme Q10 100mg/ day. Juice Plus is also an excellent supplement (four capsules contain the equivalent of four servings of fruits and vegetables each day) to boost your immune system. It can be bought through my distributor Sheryl Basso (954)753-6955 for $39.95 per month.
If the biopsy shows a higher grade lesion on your cervix, known as High Grade Dysplasia (HSIL), you will need to have a piece of your cervix removed under general anesthesia. This is called a cone biopsy of the cervix. A high grade dysplasia has more of a tendency to progress to cervical cancer in five or more years than a low grade dysplasia. Therefore, surgical intervention is necessary.
Occasionally, a cervical biopsy or cone biopsy pathology specimen will return with a diagnosis of invasive cervical cancer. Unfortunately, this occurs in women who have not had a pap smear in many years or failed to follow up an abnormal pap smear in the past. This diagnosis of cancer necessitates a simple hysterectomy which is curative.
Lastly, Human Papillomavirus will not affect your ability to become pregnant or to have a vaginal birth in the future.
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