[Question #5720] Hpv
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73 months ago
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Hello
I have been very confused and a little anxious lately about high risk hpv. I am a female and was not sexually active until early 32. By the time the hpv testing was done in 2006 i was around 40 and i did test positive with low grade dysplasia. It did resolve on its own within a year although i still tested positive for a few more years. I kind of feel that my dysplasia might have happened because i was under so much stress due to my mom being diagnosed with cancer and subsequently passing away in a year, financial and relationship troubles etc
My question is that was my seemingly persistent infection of over 5 years due to the stress of the time or my age? I was about 12 years behind at least most girls who had sex at an early age
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
73 months ago
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Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your question. I happened to be on the site and as a result, you are receiving a reply somewhat sooner than is typical. Follow-up replies may take longer. You are asking questions for which it is difficult to provide precise answers. We do know that HPV infection tends to persist longer in women over age 30 than in younger women. Whether stress also prolongs clearance time is less clear but seems possible. In your own case, from my perspective, the most important fact is that your infection cleared and that is good news.
If I may go a bit beyond my reply to your direct question, I want to point out that give your relatively late date of sexual debut, you may wish to consider getting the HPV vaccine. The FDA recently expanded approval for HPV vaccines to age 45. You may be a good candidate for this highly effective, safe vaccine which would reduce your risk for future HPV infections.
I hope that this information is helpful to you. EWH
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73 months ago
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Well i am 53 now. I have not tested positive in over 7 years now. I was just curious. It is interesting that now they recommend pap and hpv test every 5 years. If that would have been the process 10 years ago i might not have known i was positive
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
73 months ago
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Sorry for my miscalculation regarding your age. Thanks as well for your additional information. EWH---