HPV positive? Did you do anything to try and boost immune system

[Comps83]

So I suppose it was only a matter of time before I got a positive HPV result as I had cells removed over 10 years ago so I knew I must have it.
Obviously my immune system has let it back in as I've tested negative since they started routinely testing for it
Did anyone try anything to boost their immune system ? Did it work ?

I didn’t know it could resurface despite not changing sexual partners. I thought now I was married I’d be unlikely to get it again having had it once and then having a subsequent clear test. Thanks for this thread.

I was part of the original trials, many years ago, when they had first started to notice a link between hpv and cervical cancer. As a student at the university of manchester. I’ve also had a loop incision and been on yearly smears since 2003.

The hpv went away for a number of years but suddenly came back 3 years ago. No one knows why. I am also now post baby and 40, also wondering if there is something in it.

I take a multi vit and drink green tea but it doesn’t seem to have stopped it returning. Think I’m going to be in annual smears for the rest of my life.

Hi all, I had a HPV positive smear earlier this year, and I just had another follow up smear which has come back HPV negative

I did a few things to try and boost my immune system which I thought I should share here - I started taking ‘Sabucol extra defence black elderberry syrup’ daily. I also did some research and saw that a mushroom extract has been used successfully to treat HPV in other countries, so I have been taking 3600mg of this per day. It is called ‘AHCC’ (Active Hexose Correlated Compound)

I also started taking a b vitamin complex, and omega 3. I did not take zinc etc as a separate vitamin because it’s all included in the black elderberry syrup.

Another thing I did is that I started fasting - nothing extreme, but I did several 48 hour fasts per month. I read this is brilliant for the immune system because it allows autophagy to occur.

Obviously I can’t be sure that the supplements helped, but it’s likely I had this HPV infection for many years as it already caused significant damage to my cervix, I had to have the LLETZ done (which wasn’t as bad as it sounds just incase anyone has to have it in the future! )

From what the doctors have told me, once you fight off the HPV strain you should in theory be immune to it - but if your immune system takes a hit, it can re emerge and cause issues. But the vast majority of people have the virus present in their body - they just catch it and fight it off within a year or so, so loads of people who have never had an abnormal smear/HPV positive smear do still have the virus in their system - it’s so common so they basically told me not to feel so shit about it.

Hope this helps someone

The hosp also said I don’t need to go for a smear until 2023 now which surprised me! But apparently since I’m now HPV neg I can go back to a normal smear schedule.

Has anybody had any symptoms with HPV ever?

How can it come back again if you've had the same sexual partner?

@TheVanguardSix can I ask what your visible flare up was? I’m curious as I have had some changes in my discharge but I’m not sure if it is linked to a positive HPV or something else.

@gypsywater when they refer to the virus being ‘cleared’ by the immune system, they really mean it is dormant and harmless. But if your immune system isnt functioning as well as usual, it can re emerge (but apparently it isn’t common for this to happen)

@TheVanguardSix What treatment is there for HPV? There isnt any.

@Greymouse20 Wow, did not know that. Have always been told that once it is cleared it is gone! Bloody hell. That's pretty bad I was told that! Had no idea it just goes dormant.

@gypsywater there is no treatment. The main concern is that it can change your cells and become cancerous. Technically HPV will never go.

I honestly thought one you tested positive you were always positive! I didn’t know your body was meant to clear it 🤔

I have one of the cancerous strains but my last colposcopy was absolutely fine.

@gypsywater yeah I was really surprised too, as they word the letters as if it goes entirely. Even my follow up smear last month was referred to as a ‘test of cure’ for HPV.

I used the website Jo’s Trust, they have an ‘ask an expert’ section which is brilliant. I asked for clarification on there, and they said it’s comparable to chickenpox - some people get shingles in later life but it isn’t hugely common, you usually are just immune

Just to say I also had glandular fever as a teen and that bad boy also likes to reappear in my blood work occasionally. I guess herpes is the same and maybe covid too!

@Bluerose433 Exactly. So PP telling people that they MUST GET TREATMENT is just BS.

@justanotherneighinparadise

I honestly thought one you tested positive you were always positive! I didn’t know your body was meant to clear it 🤔

I have one of the cancerous strains but my last colposcopy was absolutely fine.

Definitely not, I’ve had a HPV negative result through recently when I was HPV positive with high grade cell changes in February.

I'd be interested to know too. I was HPV positive at my smear and then diagnosed with cervical cancer in March.

Those mushroom tablets sound good and I did read somewhere a link between them and HPV. I may get some.

@Chesneyhawkes1

I'd be interested to know too. I was HPV positive at my smear and then diagnosed with cervical cancer in March.

Those mushroom tablets sound good and I did read somewhere a link between them and HPV. I may get some.

These are the exact ones I’ve been taking for the past few months, I found them on Amazon.

I hope everything is ok now

I was HPV positive at my last smear but my letter made it sound like nothing to worry about at all, because most people have it and it lies dormant?

This is one of the clinical studies on the mushroom supplement - www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141028122424.htm

‘ Summary:
A Japanese mushroom extract appears to be effective for the eradication of human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a pilot clinical trial. Ten HPV-positive women were treated orally with the extract, AHCC (active hexose correlated compound) once daily for up to six months. Five achieved a negative HPV test result three with confirmed eradication after stopping AHCC with the remaining two responders continuing on the study.’

@HarrietOh don't worry it will probably go away and cause no problems . I've read that 8 out of 10 adults have it at some point . There are about 150 different strains and not all are dangerous
I'm just worried as I've already had pre cancerous cells removed before

I guess herpes is the same and maybe covid too!

HPV is human papilloma virus, not herpes.

Op, before you buy up all the multi-vitamins and supplements in H&B, are you on any prescription medication? Because some of them can disrupt other medications and shouldn't be taken together.

Is 50% of 10 people clinically significant?

@HarrietOh

I was HPV positive at my last smear but my letter made it sound like nothing to worry about at all, because most people have it and it lies dormant?

Yes I feel they do down play it on the letter. But even the way it is diagnose is strange compared to other STI’s. It’s quite telling. It definitely lies dormant and maybe those who have got “negative” who is to say they won’t have it again as you won’t have another smear test for a few years.

@user1932456542587 no I'm on absolutely nothing right now for once in my life
I just bought the advance immune support tablets from Holland and Barrett. Can't hurt
Want to lose 1.5st too