HPV and female socialisation

[JellySlice]

^she said: "I felt like it was my fault, that I had done something wrong, because I had HPV."
The MP for Birmingham Yardley, now 39, added: "It's sexually transmitted so there was always this sense that it was somehow my doing and that I could have avoided this."^

Would a man feel this way? Is this actually the old misogynistic "Nice girls don't have sex. You got what you deserve."?

Women get tested for HPV every 3 years. Do men get routinely tested, or is it now women's job to control transmission of HPV?

Jess Phillips: Ditch HPV stigma to avoid the shame I felt www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57438881

Gosh absolutely.

I was never clear but think the cells they found at my smear when I was 22 were due to hpv. At least that's what I could tell from info on what they'd found. I felt ashamed. Not least as id barely had many sexual relationships and nearly always used condoms.

I then had to go for 6 monthly biopsies at the hospital, some worse than others, (one woman consultant was horrid) for several years. And then was told it had gone. I was told they'd probably punch biopsied it away.

However, a few years ago when I described this they said that they now know what I had was normal for my age and the biopsies unnecessary.

I'm glad they were monitoring me but I victim blamed myself. Which ever partner gave it to me, if that was the case had no idea.

Whether or not I had hpv, I certainly felt the shame.

There wasn't enough space to add that to the consultation. And didn't think to try again. Dammit!

But I didn't even think of that situation as I feel I've normalised this stuff to hell.