do pap smears always detect hpv?

May 3, 2009 by admin 

i just found out i have HPV (Genital Warts) i asked my ex when is the last time she had a pap smear and she said in November, and that all was fine. the doctor told me the type of HPV i have has a 2 year incubation time so i must have got it from her or could i have had it for a much longer time and now am getting symptoms,

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One Response to “do pap smears always detect hpv?”

  1. tarnishedsilverheart on May 3rd, 2009 11:31 pm

    A Pap test looks for abnormal cell changes. A woman after the age of 30 where abnormal cell have been found will have an HPV test that confirms you have one or more of the HPV types the HPV test screens for.

    An HPV test does not screen for all 30+ high and low risk HPV types. A single Pap test may miss abnormal cells.
    Screening for HPV is not included in normal STI screening.

    A Pap test is only screening for the cervix. There is no vulva cells that are taken with our Pap so an HPV infection that just involved the vulva may not show on in the HPV test or with the Pap screening.

    To learn more about the HPV test. http://www.thehpvtest.com

    Genital Warts

    http://www.emedicinehealth.com/genital_warts/page2_em.htm

    Most visible genital warts are of low risk HPV types 6 or 11. Low risk HPV types are not screen for in an HPV test.

    It can take years for abnormal cells to develop.
    The incubation time for genital low risk HPV types are generally 3 to 8 months but they can show any time after the initial infection.

    You can have HPV and never show abnormal cell changes or visible genital warts. It is virtually impossible to know who infected who if both of you have engaged in any sexual activity before. At this time you both share your HPV type or types.

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