Question:
In February my pap came back showing low grade mild dysplasia. After the colposcopy my doc called back and left a message saying "everything looks very good, everything came back negative." I left half a dozen messages trying to get someone to call back but after a while I gave up.
Tried back this week and finally got a nurse to call me back. My main questions were negative for what exactly? I thought maybe there was a chance I didn't have HPV as I was under the impression dysplasia is caused by other factors other than HPV.
Basically, what I was told:
-He didn't even do an HPV test as the kind of dysplasia I have is always caused by high risk HPV, so I definitely have it. Which confuses me because I thought other factors could cause this.
-There is a test for HPV through vaginal fluid and thin prep.
-That the colposcopy was negative (but I still don't understand what it was negative for).
-No amount of vitamins (folic acid, etc) will make any difference at all. Which confuses me because I had read that there were significant studies that showed there was a definite link to dysplasia and certain vitamin deficiencies.
-That I am always, at all times, contagious and able to pass this on.
Granted, this was a nurse and not my doc, but is all of this correct?
Answer:
Hi, Sorry to hear about all of the confusion.I'm suprised your doctor did not do an HPV test.Abnormal paps can be caused by other thing's such as an STD,inflamation or irritation,or any number of factor's.Just about all cases of dysplasia are caused by HPV,it's rare that something else will cause it,but it does happen.There is a test for HPV,some doctor's do it when you have your pap,some after an abnormal one.It's just an extra swab or brush.You should go and get a copy of your colpo report or have them send you one.And you are right,there is a link to folic acid,being low on it seem's to be a factor in women with dysplasia.Lot's of fruit and veggie's are good to boost the immune system.As far as the virus goes,if your body is able to gain immunity to it,it's possible for it to clear your system.Sometime's though it will just go dormant and you will be just a carrier.As long as you have active dysplasia that is caused by HPV,you can pass it to new partner's.If you are in a relationship or married you and your partner will have the same virus and can't pass it back and forth.The stronger strain's of the virus cause no symptom's in men,just a very rare chance of penile cancer.But that is very rare!!However if you have relation's with a new partner,you can be reinfected with a new virus!This is a very confusing and strange problem to have,sometime's it feel's like you sort of get an understanding of it and then you end up with more question's.I hope this help's some,be sure to get copie's of your path.Take care.
Answer:
Yes, you are always contagious and able to pass HPV. Almost all sexually active people have HPV, though, so even if you didn't have dysplasia, it's highly likely that you have HPV.
Almost every single case of dysplasia is caused by HPV and they can tell by the type of cell changes you have whether your dysplasia was caused by HPV.
There have been studies showing that some vitamins like folic acid may help dysplasia to regress. Doctors recieve no training in nutrition, so although it's counter-intuitive, they aren't a great source of information about nutrition.
There is a test for HPV.