Kinsey Confidential

Q: I have had 4 sex partners in my life. My most recent pap smear came back abnormal. I had a colposcopy and my doctor said that it looked like I had only mild cervical changes. He checked for warts but did not find any. He was nice and caring, but didn't go into much detail, and I was so upset that I couldn't ask any questions. In the meantime I'm going crazy. My boyfriend has been supportive, but I am upset. He and I have been in a monogamous relationship for a year, and it's the best relationship (emotionally and physically) I've ever been in. I am so worried that everything is going to change. Can I still have sex with my boyfriend (vaginal and oral)? What safer sex practices should we use, and for how long? Will I get warts? What things can I do to avoid warts and further problems?\nA: I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. While difficult, it may be reassuring to know that about 60-80% of sexually active adults have had or will have the human papillomavirus. Many never know it. This is particularly true for men, since we currently have no way of testing men for HPV. In other words, your boyfriend may have HPV but neither of you would know it unless he had visible warts diagnosed by a healthcare provider. It is even possible that you got HPV from him, but there is no way to know.\nThere are more than 100 strains of HPV. Some are linked to genital warts; others may cause cervical changes which would show up on a Pap test. Most people's bodies appear to "get over" their HPV infection without it ever causing symptoms like warts or cervical changes. Most women who have an abnormal Pap test result have a normal Pap test result again within one year. It is important, however, to follow your healthcare provider's recommendations regarding repeat Pap testing and colposcopy testing. Good for you for doing so!\n It is a personal choice to have sex after a sexually transmissible infection diagnosis so we cannot advise you on what to do. Since you have been together for a year and have likely been sexually active together for a while, it is possible that your boyfriend already has HPV (whether you gave it to him or he gave it to you). \nAs HPV is transmitted skin-to-skin, condoms (which do not cover all of one's genital skin) cannot eliminate the risk of HPV transmission although some research suggests that they may reduce the risk. HPV is unlikely to be transmitted to oral sex. It does happen, but it is uncommon as the virus is said to "prefer" the genital.\nAn HPV diagnosis does not mean that you will get warts. You may not have a wart-related strain. Even if you do, you may never get warts or you may only get a few warts from time to time. Treatments are available for warts should you ever get them. Both you and your boyfriend can examine your genitals for changes in appearance, keeping in mind that there are many normal lumps and bumps on one's genitals that have nothing to do with HPV or other problems. You can learn more about HPV, abnormal Paps, warts, and normal lumps and bumps in The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health.\nIf you smoke cigarettes, quitting smoking is a major step toward improving your cervical health. A great deal of research has connected cigarette smoking with HPV-related problems including cervical changes and genital warts. Smoking cessation classes are available through many campus health centers and community groups. In addition, anything that helps your immune system (e.g., good sleep, relaxation, healthy lifestyle) may be helpful.\nYou can learn more about HPV on our web site (www.kinseyconfidential.org) and on the web site of the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov). At the CDC site you can read detailed information about the new HPV vaccine, which is available to many women even if they already have a diagnosis of HPV. Ask your healthcare provider for more information about this possibility. Good luck.