Positive HPV smear…cheating husband?

[BananaHamock]

Hi all. So, I’ve just received smear results and they show I’m positive for HPV (and have cell changes…) Besides spiralling at needing a colposcopy, I’m now desperate to hear how you can get HPV without intercourse/skin to skin contact.

Dr. Google seems pretty insistent that’s the only way. So is the only conclusion my husbands playing away?

The education around this is so poor, as I thought exactly the same. The nurse told me last week that pretty much all males carry the virus something like 8 out 10 people. It's not the same as a sexuallt transmitted disease.

Same here. Previous smear was positive and the last was negative. It can lay dormant for years

A condom doesn’t protect against HPV because you can get hpv through skin to skin contact.
How would you personally know, nuns who have hpv😂

I tested positive many years ago and had treatment for abnormal cells. Had been in the same relationship for 5 years at the time. 20 ish years later I tested positive again. I am in a different relationship now but feel it could just be that it’s come from me once again.

Nuns don't get HPV unless they had sexual contacts before becoming celibate.

If you’ve got suspicions then you could just call his bluff and say that he’s obviously slept with someone and that’s how you’ve got it, so own up now. See what his reaction is.

You’re also BU for “spiralling” over a colposcopy. It’s a fairly routine procedure. Great that you were screened and this was picked up, this is good news. I had a colposcopy aged 20 and it was just like more involved smear - but with a gynae rather than a nurse

Can I just add, OP depending on when your last smear was they may not have tested you for HPV before as they always used to look at the cells first for changes but they made the breakthrough that hpv has to be present for cervical changes that cause cancer so now they test for HPV firs then if that's positive review the cells

I see, not just through sex but through

• any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area
• vaginal, anal or oral sex
• sharing sex toys

So the OP has nothing to worry about, that will put her mind at rest

It doesn't mean he has cheated, op. He might have but, as others have said, it could have lain dormant for years. You'll know if he has by the expression on his face when you tell him.

The important thing now is for you to have your colposcopy and be well. I'm sure you will be.

Good luck.

When was your last smear before this? It is only in the last few years they have started testing for HPV, you could have had it before and not known as it wasn't tested, only abnormal cells were reported in the past.

As others have said it can also lay dormant.

I had a positive HPV smear a few years ago and never once thought it was because my husband had cheated...

Colposcopy's aren't as bad as you will think, I was referred to one after 3 HPV positive smears and I think I've had 3 colposcopy's since then and it's honestly not much different to a smear. If they need to take a biopsy it can sting a little but honestly it's nothing to worry about. I've now been signed off to 3 yearly checks as my last colposcopy and smear were negative for HPV and any abnormalities. I think if anything it gave me peace of mind as I knew I'd had a thorough check over

80% of people will have HPV at some time in their life, usually with no symptoms. It is not an STI. It is diagnosed from a smear test. There’s no equivalent test for men.

There’s no treatment, Most people find that their immune system gets rid of it in a couple of years. In the meantime, annual smears are recommended.

In a small number of cases it can cause genital warts and certain cancers including throat, cervical, penile and rectal cancer.

HPV vaccine was introduced for teenage girls several years ago and now boys are also vaccinated. There’s been a notable reduction in HPV infections as a result.

Please don’t worry about the colposcopy, OP. It really is no big deal.

It doesn't sound like you trust him so why are you trying to have a baby with him?

Spot on

I had a positive HPV smear a few years ago and never once thought it was because my husband had cheated.

Unless you also caught your husband arranging to meet another woman while telling you he was meeting friends, I don't understand the relevance of this statement.

Caught him going to meet another woman while telling me he was meeting friends, though he’s still insistent it was completely innocent.

If it was completely innocent, why did he omit to mention it (I find cohabiting couples tend to mention most things to each other) but much more significantly, why did he lie about who he was meeting??

How did he know her?

No one is unreasonable for being frightened to have an intimate procedure for cell changes that could lead to cancer.

Don’t attempt to diminish her feelings.

I had my smear yesterday and the nurse stressed that a positive result would not be surprising and “we all end up with one eventually” . It was news to me but 🤷‍♀️

Urgh same. But I don't think it's until perpetuity. Smears stop after the age of 65. Quite a few years ahead for me though.

I'm in the same situation OP. I've been with my husband 12 years and tested positive for HPV this year despite having all negative tests before. I spoke to the GP and nurse about it and they said it can be dormant for years, most people have it and my situation is not uncommon at all. I guess you never know but I'm pretty certain my husband hasn't cheated. Good luck with everything!

Some nuns with HPV...

https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/immaculate-infection-riddle-hpv-ghanas-nuns#:~:text=HPV%20mainly%20spreads%20through%20sexual,at%20risk%20of%20cervical%20cancer.

I have regularly moved from
positive to negative HPV even when not sexually active.

Unless there’s any other indication of cheating then you are unreasonable to suspect this is the reason.

It’s really normal to be HPV positive at some point.

NHS have only recently tested for HPV (new criteria) previously checked for cell changes. HPV is now known to be the risk for cervical cancer. Lies dormant, body can also clear itself from HPV. I honestly don’t believe your husband has been unfaithful.

I had that result about five years ago. It went away on the next one. My DH and I had been together about 18 years then and neither been with anyone else.