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HPV, my life, what should I do?
Doctor,
I have to begin by saying that I appreciate that you take the time to answer questions here from everyone.
I am a 28 yr old gay male who has made the recent decision to become celibate. It was a long sought decision after many years of pain, abuse and bad choices. When I was 18, my first boyfriend cheated on me and was extremely abusive. My second boyfriend was mean to my family. My third was a habitual cheater. Needless to say, over the years, I lost faith in having a good relationship and became promiscuous. I would try to detach myself from my emotions and have sex freely. From the time I was 18 until this past year (2007) I had about 160 sex partners -- most of them oral sex. I have made drastic changes to my life and I am trying frantically to turn my life around.
I have been tested recently and I am HIV negative and have no STDs, but I am pretty sure I have HPV. My major concern at this point is that I will probably have to face Oral Cancer someday. I take Vitamin B/C, Zinc and Lycopene tablets everyday. I eat a healthy dose of fruits and vegetables every day, have found new friends and have become a more spiritual person.
I am just wondering if you think there is a chance my body will clear any existing HPV infection by taking these vitamins and eating healthy?
Is there an HPV test I can take?
I have a dull pain in my left ear that echos to my throat and it has got me worried about possible oral cancer, though, it may also be from me using Q-tips frequently. I'm not sure. I work but I don't have health insurance and must use the county health system (which has many issues).
Thanks for your time...
I have to begin by saying that I appreciate that you take the time to answer questions here from everyone.
I am a 28 yr old gay male who has made the recent decision to become celibate. It was a long sought decision after many years of pain, abuse and bad choices. When I was 18, my first boyfriend cheated on me and was extremely abusive. My second boyfriend was mean to my family. My third was a habitual cheater. Needless to say, over the years, I lost faith in having a good relationship and became promiscuous. I would try to detach myself from my emotions and have sex freely. From the time I was 18 until this past year (2007) I had about 160 sex partners -- most of them oral sex. I have made drastic changes to my life and I am trying frantically to turn my life around.
I have been tested recently and I am HIV negative and have no STDs, but I am pretty sure I have HPV. My major concern at this point is that I will probably have to face Oral Cancer someday. I take Vitamin B/C, Zinc and Lycopene tablets everyday. I eat a healthy dose of fruits and vegetables every day, have found new friends and have become a more spiritual person.
I am just wondering if you think there is a chance my body will clear any existing HPV infection by taking these vitamins and eating healthy?
Is there an HPV test I can take?
I have a dull pain in my left ear that echos to my throat and it has got me worried about possible oral cancer, though, it may also be from me using Q-tips frequently. I'm not sure. I work but I don't have health insurance and must use the county health system (which has many issues).
Thanks for your time...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, not as far as is known at this time. Even if the HPV-16 infections that lead to oral cancers turn out to be acquired by oral sex 30 years earlier, the numbers suggest that a tiny proportion of infected people go on to get oral cancer. You'll have plenty of health worries at age 50 and beyond, and this is not likely to be one of them.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sorry I misunderstood the timing. No, it doesn't change my advice or outlook, except to give me more confidence that your changes in lifestyle and attitudes toward health probably are more mature than my previous reply assumed. I don't necessarily endorse celibacy, which seems rather extreme, given the centrality of sex to most persons' happiness, although of course I endorse your intent to stay healthy. But you really should have no serious worries about oral cancer.
One final question -- is this something I should be worried about later in life, around the time of 50 years of age?
Hi,
Thanks for the reply....just to clear it up. I am 28 now....I was just telling you about my past starting when I was 18 (1999)...hope that puts it into better perspective. Does this change your advice or outlook?
Thanks for the reply....just to clear it up. I am 28 now....I was just telling you about my past starting when I was 18 (1999)...hope that puts it into better perspective. Does this change your advice or outlook?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Well, I agree with one statement you make: you have had HPV. But you don't necessarily have it now; most HPV infections go away with time. You have a major misunderstanding about oral sex, HPV, and oral cancer. Out of the millions of people who perform oral sex and are orally exposed to HPV in the US each year, there are only about 6,000 cases of HPV-related oral or throat cancers per year. The odds you are going to be one of those persons is extremely small -- in stark contrast to your assumption that "I will probably have to face oral cancer someday".
That you would have avoided all those oral sex relationships had you only known about the oral sex/HPV connection sounds very unlikely. Few 18 year olds would make such a choice to avoid a low risk of a cancer that only affects people age 50 and over. In any case, be careful about lifelong health decisions at age 19-20, which is your apparent age if you were 18 way back in 2007! I hope you follow a healthy lifestyle, but you're a bit young to be making such sweeping statements. Whether or not you stick with your intent to remain celebate, the fact is that you have not been infected with HIV. That's the only thing that really is important in regard to your health over the long term.
Finally, sorry to deflate your beliefs, but there isn't the slightest evidence that vitamins, zinc, and healthy eating will reduce your risk of cancer due to HPV or anything else. Those aren't necessarily bad, but there is no evidence they help.
Your sore throats and ear pain don't worry me at all, in respect to oral cancer. But stop the Q-tips, and see a provider if you remain concerned about your symptoms.
Good luck--- HHH, MD
That you would have avoided all those oral sex relationships had you only known about the oral sex/HPV connection sounds very unlikely. Few 18 year olds would make such a choice to avoid a low risk of a cancer that only affects people age 50 and over. In any case, be careful about lifelong health decisions at age 19-20, which is your apparent age if you were 18 way back in 2007! I hope you follow a healthy lifestyle, but you're a bit young to be making such sweeping statements. Whether or not you stick with your intent to remain celebate, the fact is that you have not been infected with HIV. That's the only thing that really is important in regard to your health over the long term.
Finally, sorry to deflate your beliefs, but there isn't the slightest evidence that vitamins, zinc, and healthy eating will reduce your risk of cancer due to HPV or anything else. Those aren't necessarily bad, but there is no evidence they help.
Your sore throats and ear pain don't worry me at all, in respect to oral cancer. But stop the Q-tips, and see a provider if you remain concerned about your symptoms.
Good luck--- HHH, MD
Just wanted to add that, had I known oral sex was a risk for cancer, I never would have been as promiscuous. This knowledge came when was I well into my sexual activity. I am deeply regretful now.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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