HPV Support Group

Hi I will do anything I can to help others and prevent this from happening to someone else. What would you like to know? There's a lot you can find out about us just by reading our posted discussions. I just love the fact that there are communities like this were you can get support and know that you're not the only one.

Here are the questions I'd like to ask you. Feel free to leave anything out, or to add anything extra. Any information you want to give will be extremely useful. Thanks so much for your help!

How long have you had HPV?

How did you find out you had the virus?

How has HPV affected your life?

How have your relationships differed since you’ve been diagnosed?

What do you think about Gardasil? Should it be mandatory for female students upon entrance to middle school?

Do you do anything to try and spread awareness of HPV?

Do you think public schools do enough in sex education courses to spread awareness of HPV?

I would like to remian anonymous ...

I have had HPV Genital Warts for close to three months now.

I noticed a small rough bump on my vagina that I knew was not healthy. I went to my Docter and it was removed. Something you might also want to inform people about that if they are told they have HPV your docter isn't going to act like its a big deal becasue to them its not, there is nothing they can do about it so they kinda of leave you hanging.

HPV has affected my life in many ways from it being on my mind all the time, to thinking about my future with my babies and hoping that one day I will be able to have a natural birth with out c-section. I think about the people who will be affected by me.. and most importanly my boyfriend.. this is where the honesty kicks in and you have to understand there are alot of people that don't tell their partners.

About my sex life and relationships. I have a boyfriend who I believe i might have infected becasue at the time i did not know I had it. I have not told him in fear of losing him. Its hard. And from what I hear alot of people don't tell their partners becasue docters make it out to seem as if everyone has it or will soon have some type or strand of HPV. I have no told him yet but my sex life is healthy with him. but if we were to ever break up there would not be someone in my life for a long time .. I fear being alone for the rest of my life.. and that no one will ever love me again becasue of this virus that is contained in my body.. something I didn't want .. something that was given to me by someone who knew they had it ..

I think Gardisil is a God Send, but it does not protect from all .. but I think it you should have to have it .. If I would have got it the first time it came out I woudlnt be where I am right now. This can save a lot of women and men from the suffering of GW adnd HPV

I think HPV is the new epidemic and I think it needs to be informed becasue you don't realy pay attention till it happends to you .. I think they need to inform the students more and give them the real information on how condoms don't protect from HPV.

I'd also like to remain anonymous but want to add my experience:

I was diagnosed at 33, after 1 bad pap. No history of any problems prior; no external 'symptoms' & faithfully married for 13yrs. For me hpv is secondary; as I've just had a hysterectomy due to having high risk strains associated with cervical cancer. For myself, less invasive treatments weren't successful. From what I've read & been told, hpv can lay dormant for years. Probably why its said that 80% of women don't even know they have it.

And not all Drs. are as cold as some gals make it seem. I've been lucky.. my Dr. is very open & honest w/ me & maybe its due to the cancer risk that he's not 'acting like its no big deal..'

As a mother of an 8yr old girl, I'm not for or against the vaccine right now, as it only protects against some strains, not all. I would personally want to try to educate my daughter as best I can so that she can make good choices. I don't think I feel comfortable giving this vaccine to a young girl.

Feel free to em with any other ?'s.. I just wanted to give my side. That hpv can happen to anyone. And all women should be very very diligent about getting paps!

How long have you had HPV?
- I was diagnosed with HPV in May 2007, so I have had it for almost 7 months.

How did you find out you had the virus?
- I noticed bumps in my genital area in May and I went into the doctor to have it checked and they told me it was genital warts and that I had HPV. I then had a pap smear at the end of the summer and my results came back abnormal and I tested positive for HPV.

How has HPV affected your life?
- I have felt very down about myself and like I am dirty. I feel like this will affect the relationships I will have and I have been kind of reluctant to start any relationships.

How have your relationships differed since you’ve been diagnosed?
- I haven't been able to really get close to anyone because I know that I should tell them about my HPV, but I am afraid of being rejected.

What do you think about Gardasil? Should it be mandatory for female students upon entrance to middle school?
- yes, I strongly agree that it should be part of the required shots that girls get before they enter middle school or high school. this virus is becoming more and more common and widespread, so being protected against it is necessary. just as much as a vaccine against hepatitis.

Do you do anything to try and spread awareness of HPV?
- yes, I make sure I let all my friends know about it and tell them that they should get the vaccine.

Do you think public schools do enough in sex education courses to spread awareness of HPV?
- I don't think so, because in my sex education class in high school, I was never told about HPV. sure, I was informed of genital warts, but never about the virus that causes them abd how serious that it can be and how it can lead to cervical cancer.

Good Luck on your paper!

" How long have you had HPV?
- I was diagnosed with HPV in September 2007. I have the non cervical cancer kind.

How did you find out you had the virus?
- I noticed a few bumps around my genital area and I didn't know if they were cuts from shaving, but I went to Urgent Care and they diagnosed me from there. Genital Warts.

How has HPV affected your life?
-I don't think it has affected me that much since I live at home and the guy I love is over in England. I just think its hard to talk to people about this.

How have your relationships differed since you’ve been diagnosed?
- I guess they haven't changed. Yet the guy I really love doesn't know, so hopefully he will be supportive.

What do you think about Gardasil? Should it be mandatory for female students upon entrance to middle school?
I think its a great way to protect them against cervical cancer strains and why not with other shots such as an MMR or Hepatitis etc.

Do you do anything to try and spread awareness of HPV?
- I explain to my friends what I have and tell them to get the shot.

Do you think public schools do enough in sex education courses to spread awareness of HPV?
- Well when I was in school I don't think I have heard of HPV. I think they need to promote more information about STDs in general and prevention etc.

Good Luck!