HPV Symptoms / Signs

[toadstool]

is herpes the same as HPV??

How long after HPV acquisition would you develop signs? What would be the signs?

i'm almost 25 and never had any proper sex education. Never knew of HPV and their consequences. 8 weeks ago i had protected sex with a CSW. Now hiv and hpv are huge concerns for me. i know to test at 12 weeks for hiv but no nothing about HPV

Thanks for any input

[auntiejessi]

You had protected sex - I see no reason to worry about HIV.

Aj

[toadstool]

oh right ok.. mmmm fingers crossed i dont start to see signs so...And if i can just get a negative hiv test aswell then i can back to a normal life.

Thank you so much for the info, its much appreciated.

[auntiejessi]

Oh doh - I forgot that part.  Sorry.  :(

There is no test for men and HPV.  The only test available is for women and its done with their pap smears.

I wouldn't worry about it with no symptoms - there is just no way you can know.  You also used a condom, so that really helps reduce your chances of getting it.

Aj

[toadstool]

to auntiejessie,

Thank you so so much for such comprehensive information. is HPV something to be really worried about - if no symptoms show is it possible to test for it?

Thank you, much much appreciated.

[auntiejessi]

Hi there -

No, herpes is not the same thing as HPV, though its easy to get confused.

HPV = human papiloma virus - causes warts and can lead to cervical cancer

HSV = herpes simplex virus - two types - 1 and 2 - 1 can be oral or genital, 2 is almost always genital - causes blisters, sores, lesions, paper-cut sores.

There are two type of hpv as well - high risk and low risk.  The high risk kind is what can lead to cervical cancer, and men can have that and have no signs or symptoms.  The low risk kind is what gives you genital warts, and you can also have that and show no symptoms.

If you do get symptoms of hpv, they can show within a month or two, or take years to show.  About 80% will have HPV in their lifetimes, though most won't know it.

Herpes sores typically show up within 2-20 days, but not always.  They might not be big bad ugly blisters people think they are, either.  About 1 in 4 women have herpes type 2, (slightly less for men) and about 30-50% of all new genital herpes infections are from type 1, usually as a result of oral sex with someone who has it orally.

Condoms reduce the risk of HPV transmission by about 70%, and herpes transmission by about 50% (though the risk is quite low if someone isn't having an outbreak at the time.)

Less than 1% of people in the US (and Canada and the UK have very similar rates) have HIV.  Condoms can fully protect you from HIV transmission.

You should check out www.ashastd.org for more info on stds, and if you google your GUM clinic, they should have a website that has great info as well.

Aj