My husband has agreed to take a blood test before we're intimate again, but is there any point until a certain time has past? Do they show up right away?

thanks

The latency period for STDs is less than 1 month, but for HIV is 3 months for it to be accurate.

I'm sorry for your situation but have had to walk the same ground because of my WW (she was intimiate with me and OM at the same time). It's unthinkable. You never would imagine yourself doing such a thing as a married, monogamous person but you can do it.

Best wishes. Read as much as you can here, it'll help you out in the long run.

HPV can be latent for longer. I don't know the specific details, but Amazon.com has books on the subject. There is no blood test that detects it, either, as far as I know.

It all depends on the STD. Bacterial infections have a short incubation period whereas viral infetions (herpes, HIV, PV, Hepatitis C) can take several months and at times they can be asymptomatic infections early on. Specific blood tests may be requested. I would suggest condoms for the time being until you have taken care, but only if the potential transmission was recent. Otherwise, it may be late.

According to the CDC, condoms are ineffective aganst HPV and Herpes.

Our doctor told us that after 6 months if it hasn't shown up yet it most likely won't. However, like Johnh39 said, HPV can show up later. Most of us are carriers of HPV but have no symptoms. That is why this is currently the fastest growing STD.

Until you are sure the only sure way to stay safe is to stay away from sex.

I read somewhere that condoms don't protect against a huge percentage of STD's. I thought I had a link bookmarked on what that percentage is, but I guess not.

In any event, I would talk to a someone who specializes in this field before you put yourself at risk. Saving your marriage is one of the best things you can do, but don't risk your life or health while attempting to do so.

C

They are most effective against HIV, and there is still a 15% failure rate there. They are least effective (essentially 0%) against HPV and Herpes. The other STD's are in between those extremes.

And did you know that HPV kills more women in the US every year than AIDS? Fortunately, most strains are not fatal, but the strain that causes genital warts in women also causes cervical cancer, which is where the fatalities come from.

Just a quick note, John. The varieties of HPV that actually causes visible genital warts are the ones that have a very low risk for cervical cancer. Some of the ones that don't cause visible warts are the ones that are a problem.

Here is a very technical (possibly too much so) site on HPV:

http://www.arhp.org/healthcareprovi...inicalproceedings/cphpv/types.cfm?ID=149

There is so much confusion out there on this subject that I just wanted to clarify that point. Another problem is that just the stress from a WS revealing an affair is enough to cause a drop in immunity allowing a previous exposure to one of the viruses to become active and visible (if they are the type to produce visible warts). In other words...you may never know where the exposure came from unless you have never had sexual contact with anyone besides your spouse. It can be harbored in your body with no symptoms for decades. A drop in immunity allows it to surface.

There is a newer pap test for cervical cancer that suspends the collected cells in a liquid. The sample is sent to the lab and if cellular changes are seen in the sample, then the remaining liquid can be tested for HPV and it will tell which strain I believe.

I've had HPV for years which I attributed to my H's first affair in 1986. However, I've had new problems since then and unfortunately the recent exposure he had most likely gave me yet another variety. I've not had sex with anyone else for 30 years. I have never had any precancerous changes to my cervix however.

Most women with HPV never go on to develop cancer. The highest risk group seems to be smokers with HPV...a good reason to give up that habit since up to 80% of the sexually active population has been exposed to HPV. Another high risk group are those with immunity issues.

Take care!

Stillwed

from the site you referenced: </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> Types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 51, 52, and 56 are considered “high-risk” types because they have been found in cervical and other lower genital tract cancers. However, they are also found in “flat” warts and intraepithelial lesions. Lesions caused by both low- and high-risk HPV types may regress without treatment (except for cancer), but it is not currently possible to predict which will spontaneously regress and when. Approximately 80% of cervical cancers are associated with only four types (16, 18, 31, 45) and in another 15%, types 31, 33, 35, 51, or 52 are detected. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">That says to me that those that cause cancer also cause genital warts, visible or not. I have seen on another site that type 16 is the most common that causes both.

Dear John,

IF I understand this right...and it's a big if...the types 16 and 18 you mention cause CIN, VIN, VAIN, PIN, PAIN, which I BELIEVE are precancerous states. This is what I gathered from it with my very limited understanding of medical terminology . The ones that cause what we would commonly see as "genital warts" or condyloma are caused by types 6 and 11.

I have a mild case of them and my doctor said that although they are unsightly (especially to me since they only appeared after my H's infidelity...I feel like I carry a part of the OW around on my body), they do not predispose me to any type of genital cancer as HPV is understood at this time. I haven't seen the "flat wart" type that is mentioned in the part that you copied from the link in my post.

Please forgive me if I offended you in any way, John! You are the LAST person I'd want to offend on this board! I've not been on MB very often lately....it's just too hard. Our one year anniversary of the beginning of my H's exit affair is just around the corner and our 1 year D-day quickly follows. I've been rather out of sorts so I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find that I'd been too blunt with my response! Please understand.

HPV is a sore spot with me. I remained monogamous for the last 30 years for many reasons...one of which was to avoid cervical cancer. You can imagine my disappointment with my H's history.

Take care!!

Stillwed

hi gonorehrea(sp) shows up fairly fast. I ve read a lot about it and it said, about men, that IF they are going to show any symptoms it will show up I think between 2 and 10 days. My H got this STD after his dirty deed and it showed up 2 or 3 days later.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> Please forgive me if I offended you in any way, John! </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">you didn't. I am striving for clarity here. HPV is something the people that study it do not completely understand, so that is difficult.

Dear John,

Thanks! I did find another site that I'd been to before that might be helpful. Take care!

http://www.ashastd.org/hpvccrc/gw.html

Stillwed

And that site says </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> The types of HPV that cause raised external genital warts are not linked with cancer. These types are usually harmless. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">So does that mean the type that causes cancer causes "flat" warts? Are they only internal? As I said, this is confusing.

You are right, John...this is confusing! Frustrating, too. I have read that it's important to have obvious lesions removed and then read that one suggested"treatment" is to leave them alone because most people's bodies will clear them on their own. My personal favorite approach is to beef up my own immune system so it has a better chance of fighting off the virus and to use Aldara. It's a cream that is applied directly to external lesions and it helps the immune system of the area where it is applied to beat the virus. It doesn't harm surrounding skin as many other treatments do. The trouble is that my insurance doesn't cover it and it's very expensive. I haven't purchased it yet, but I do like this approach.

Stillwed

<small>[ December 07, 2003, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: stillwed ]</small>