As for the blood test, this is not something typically performd and is typically reserved for research patients to determine if they were exposed prior to the study. The HC2 (hybrid capture 2) HPV test from digene is not a blood test but is performed on cells usually obtained from the remaining pap sample. So the chances of your BF even knowing what to ask for or that any doc would perform an HPV antibody test is highly unlikely. You say this is how you found out but I'm not quite sure how or why you believe this.
Keeping secrets is certainly not a sign of a healthy relationship regardless of HOW complicated your situation may be. Our stories are all complicates to some extent and it is situations like this that truly bring out the character in a partner. I would also say that without realizing it you are risking his life. Do you understand that? The initial post to which I responded by anonymous however the post above is not so I'm unclear if this is one and the same person, I am presuming it is not and that unlike anonymous you have been intimate with your BF. This is why I make the comment about risking his life. In my opinion, if you have exposed him to the virus you have an obligation to inform him - there is no choice here.
Some doctors have told their patients that there is no need to inform their partners. How egregious a statement! It was previously thought that the herpes virus could only be transmitted while the patient was having an "outbreak". It is now known that the virus can be transmitted at any time. While there is no definitive answer to this regarding HPV, they are both viruses, they are both sexually transmitted and I maintain the position that it should be considered transmittable at any point in time. This is a much safer position to take than to believe otherwise and find out in ten years that like herpes timing is irrelevant.
Men can develop penile cancer, anal cancer, head/neck and throat/tonsillar cancer. If you have exposed him you have no right to keep this from him. He should be checked by a colorectal specialist and perhaps urologist as well as soon as possible. I'm sure you are not risking his life intentionally but the fact is, you are and the longer you wait, the worse his outcome may be if indeed he has high risk HPV.
As I mentioned, it is not my intention to make someone hysterical. I believe they can do that all on their own usually because of a LACK of information and have your head swimming with all sorts of possibilities. I do not agree with doctors who withhold information regarding the potential of HPV for fear of hysteria. Providing education, correct and accurate information will ultimately help the patient more than keeping them in the dark. Please internet search "the unfortunate experiment" and see how one doctors decision to withhold not only info but treatment from women with cervical CIS (carcinoma in situ). Though this took place in a New Zealand hospital, it had major repricussions throughout the world's medical community.
It is truly unfortunate that while over 24 million Americans have HPV the majority of people have never even heard of it. The nurses comments made two posts ago may be due to how it was worded and/or conveyed. She is both correct and incorrect. The virus can become dormant and no symptoms present but it will always be present in your body and can become active at any time be it months, years or decades. There are other factors which can contribute to persistent infection one of those being smoking but at this time there is no way to determine just whose immune system will help to bring the virus to a dormant state and who will continue on to develop dysplasia and/or cancer. You are however three times more likely to develop dysplasia and/or cancer if you smoke than if you don't.
If your situation is such that you would like to discuss these complicating issues and get you to a place where you can discuss this with your BF I would be happy to talk with you in PM or through the contact info (email address) listed on my profile.
I will be speaking at the opening ceremonies of the International Papillomavirus Conference in Berlin Germany before 1400 researchers, clinicians and other prestigious HPV experts. I am honored to have been asked to provide a patient's perspective and opinions on the future course of HPV research and to educate many healthccare providers whose belief is to provide minimal info to an HPV positive patient.
I am happy to answer questions from anyone wants them. Please use my email address listed in my profile.
Comment Reply
As for the blood test, this is not something typically performd and is typically reserved for research patients to determine if they were exposed prior to the study. The HC2 (hybrid capture 2) HPV test from digene is not a blood test but is performed on cells usually obtained from the remaining pap sample. So the chances of your BF even knowing what to ask for or that any doc would perform an HPV antibody test is highly unlikely. You say this is how you found out but I'm not quite sure how or why you believe this.
March 27, 2011 - 7:55pmKeeping secrets is certainly not a sign of a healthy relationship regardless of HOW complicated your situation may be. Our stories are all complicates to some extent and it is situations like this that truly bring out the character in a partner. I would also say that without realizing it you are risking his life. Do you understand that? The initial post to which I responded by anonymous however the post above is not so I'm unclear if this is one and the same person, I am presuming it is not and that unlike anonymous you have been intimate with your BF. This is why I make the comment about risking his life. In my opinion, if you have exposed him to the virus you have an obligation to inform him - there is no choice here.
Some doctors have told their patients that there is no need to inform their partners. How egregious a statement! It was previously thought that the herpes virus could only be transmitted while the patient was having an "outbreak". It is now known that the virus can be transmitted at any time. While there is no definitive answer to this regarding HPV, they are both viruses, they are both sexually transmitted and I maintain the position that it should be considered transmittable at any point in time. This is a much safer position to take than to believe otherwise and find out in ten years that like herpes timing is irrelevant.
Men can develop penile cancer, anal cancer, head/neck and throat/tonsillar cancer. If you have exposed him you have no right to keep this from him. He should be checked by a colorectal specialist and perhaps urologist as well as soon as possible. I'm sure you are not risking his life intentionally but the fact is, you are and the longer you wait, the worse his outcome may be if indeed he has high risk HPV.
As I mentioned, it is not my intention to make someone hysterical. I believe they can do that all on their own usually because of a LACK of information and have your head swimming with all sorts of possibilities. I do not agree with doctors who withhold information regarding the potential of HPV for fear of hysteria. Providing education, correct and accurate information will ultimately help the patient more than keeping them in the dark. Please internet search "the unfortunate experiment" and see how one doctors decision to withhold not only info but treatment from women with cervical CIS (carcinoma in situ). Though this took place in a New Zealand hospital, it had major repricussions throughout the world's medical community.
It is truly unfortunate that while over 24 million Americans have HPV the majority of people have never even heard of it. The nurses comments made two posts ago may be due to how it was worded and/or conveyed. She is both correct and incorrect. The virus can become dormant and no symptoms present but it will always be present in your body and can become active at any time be it months, years or decades. There are other factors which can contribute to persistent infection one of those being smoking but at this time there is no way to determine just whose immune system will help to bring the virus to a dormant state and who will continue on to develop dysplasia and/or cancer. You are however three times more likely to develop dysplasia and/or cancer if you smoke than if you don't.
If your situation is such that you would like to discuss these complicating issues and get you to a place where you can discuss this with your BF I would be happy to talk with you in PM or through the contact info (email address) listed on my profile.
I will be speaking at the opening ceremonies of the International Papillomavirus Conference in Berlin Germany before 1400 researchers, clinicians and other prestigious HPV experts. I am honored to have been asked to provide a patient's perspective and opinions on the future course of HPV research and to educate many healthccare providers whose belief is to provide minimal info to an HPV positive patient.
I am happy to answer questions from anyone wants them. Please use my email address listed in my profile.
This Comment
Reply