Dormant HPV
Q: Recently my wife was diagnosed with HPV. We’ve been married for years and neither she nor I have had sex elsewhere. I did have unprotected sex previous to marriage. We have engaged in unprotected anal/vaginal sex together occasionally. How does a couple overcome an issue such as this?
A: First of all, HPV can lay dormant for years, sometimes decades, which is why it’s important for women to get regular PAP tests. When abnormal cells appear on the test, the woman will be treated, and those cells will be burned off. This will get rid of the HPV. The same is true if a wart appears and the wart is removed. 75% of the population will have, at some point in their sexual lives, HPV. There are many strains of it, many of which disappear on their own. However, a few strains may cause cervical cancer if not caught. In fact, this is a rare cancer, because the majority of women will catch the precancerous cells through a PAP test and will get the appropriate treatment to clear it. Fortunately, we now have a vaccine for HPV. For more information, check out www.hpv.com.
Rarer STIs
Q: After having some bumps appear on my penis, I was diagnosed with chancroid and given antibiotics. It went away, but I was blown away because I’d never ever ever heard of it before. Never in health class, in magazines or anywhere on the internet. Like, can you tell me/your readers more about it? I went to a free clinic so I was rushed out of there with a prescription, and I know you probably reach more people who should know about it here than on any other health site.
A: It’s not a surprise that you, or any of us really, have heard of this STI because it is in fact quite rare in North America. Chancroid produces painful genital ulcers which can lead to fever, chills and lots of discomfort. Although it may look like Herpes, this is caused by a bacteria (Haemophilis durecyi). This bacteria is most commonly found in tropical countries and seems to be rare in the Western world. Unlike Herpes, this is a curable sexually transmitted infection. It will not go away on its own, so you need to see a doctor for antibiotics. If left untreated, the ulcers will grow. It is also highly contagious.