I have been tested for everything under the sun and have come out clean. But, I just read from RedHat that there is no test for HPV unless you have sores.

My H has, ever since I met him, dealt with occassional red, pimple-like blisters that develop in the same spot just below the head of his penis on the underside.

He tells me that they come and go, they aren't painful, and they don't ooze anything. But because he was certainly no angel before we got married and worse after, I'm afraid.

If there is no test for HPV unless you have sores, could it be possible that my H or myself may have it and not know it?

I don't have any sores, but have been told by my OB/GYN that there are warts present near my cervix. He told me that they weren't anything to be concerned with, but now I AM concerned.

If anyone has any information on this it would be appreciated.

HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus, or genital warts. If you have visible warts, you probably don't have too much to worry about, although you do have an HPV infection. The ones that cause trouble are the ones that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Those strains of the virus (and there are many) are the ones that are believed to be responsible in some capacity for cervical cancer.

When you have your pap test done, ask the doctor to do a wet prep or wet mount test. When they use this method of cell collection, if any changes are seen in the cells by the lab, they can go on to test the leftover cells for the dangerous strains of HPV.

There are a number of cellular changes that can happen that are NOT cancerous. I have HPV, too, from my H's many affairs most likely. I've had quite a flare of them over the past two years that my body can't seem to beat. My doctor, who is one of the best, wants to take the wait and see approach. She suggested that I start taking supplements, exercising and taking very good care of my body in order to build up my immune system so it can beat the infection on it's own. I've been doing that for the past year and the lesions have lessened, but are not completely gone. In the mean time, she wants to redo my pap smear every 6 months for a while until they clear.

A recent test came back with changes that indicated that my cervical cells were fighting or reacting to something. Because it was a rather unusual lab report, the lab tech decided to run the HPV test (unusual) and it came back negative for the varieties associated with cervical cancer, thankfully! She said it could be anything, but again, the wait and see approach. This time, on my most recent test, it came back with inflammation although the cervix looked healthy with no warts. Again...wait and see approach with another pap in 6 months.

The good news is that in the past year, studies have pointed to the fact that our bodies can completely get rid of these infections! This is big news! Previously, it was believed that HPV could lie in the body indefinitely to reawaken during times of some sort of stress or lack of resistance.

One treatment available that my insurance does not cover is called Aldara. It enhances the immunity of the skin it is applied to, helping it to beat the HPV virus. It's only approved for use on the vulva area I believe. (That could have changed by now.)

I understand your concern. This has been one of the most difficult areas of affair recovery for me. It's like I'm wearing part of the other women on me all of the time. I hate it!

Stillwed

ok, first, there is a blood test for HPV, it tests for antibodies that are formed when a person contracts the virus. But, it is expensive and most doctors would not order it unless there was a compelling reason (like an undeterminate abnormal Pap)

if you have been having regular Pap smears, there would have been atypical cells noted on your test if you had been exposed before your Pap. Now of course, we only get theses once a year (normally) and if you have been exposed to something since then, it would do you no good.

that all being said... does your OB/Gyn know that the monogamy has been broken in your relationship? They are human, and may easily dismiss something with the assumption of monogamy and therefore not fully investigate something that is seen.

It can be normal to have a "pimple" on the penis (an ingrown hair or a blister from frequent, er, um... handling) and it can be normalto have benign "growths or polyps" on the cervix, also.

If you are really concerned, go to your own doctor or a new GYN and have an exam with full disclosure of the circumstances in your sex lives.

Just because you notice something does not automatically mean it is genital warts. Men commonly havea skin condition called "pearly penile papules". PPP's are not contagious. Here is a picture of what they look like:

http://www.askthecouch.com/images/PPP.jpg

Although it is not a very good picture, notice the rim of white or 'pearly' papules around the head of the penis.

This is what genital warts look like:

http://www.healthac.org/images/warts.html

It could also be Molluscum. Molluscum is a skin infection which appears on the genitals and adjacent areas as round, pearly lumps with a central white core. This is a harmless condition and is treated by "freezing". It can be spread by sexual and non sexual contact.

The best thing to do is have a test done and that way you will not h ave to 'wonder' anymore.

Another HPV person here.
I've had it for SO long.

The last time I had an HPV test....it came back negative which most likely means that it has gone dormant or something like that in my body.

So very many people have it. It is a hassle to keep track of but not usually serious (only certain strains are supposedly)

Here's to your strain....may it be just a minor pest!

yep, molluscum are contagious, but most definitly not just sexually transmitted. my 11 yo DS just had about a dozen scraped off by the dermatoligist, they spread by him touching them and then touching other spots... so far he has had no recurrences and no one else has shown up with them.

My last three paps have been normal, the last one was done less than four months ago. My OB/GYN does know that my H has strayed, I remember asking them to test me for everything soon after the A was over. I came up clean.

Capital C - Thanks for the photos, really put my mind at ease, the sores on my H definitely do not look like any of those. I'm going to guess that what he's dealing with is irritation. It's always in the same spot, and they're very small, red bumps, and not many at that, just a couple.

Thanks for all of the info. I appreciate it!