HPV, Genital Warts, Cervical Dysplasia & PAP Test
No. HPV affects a large number of sexually active men and women. Specialists estimate that ALL sexually active people could be transiently affected by the virus. The gynecologist’s contribution is crucial when it comes to the prevention and treatment of that small number of women who will suffer from a persistent HPV infection. That means that after colposcopy, the specialist may recommend PAP smear monitoring every 4 or 6 months or even ablation/cauterization in case of a persistent infection in order to treat the persistent lesion.
Please note that if you are currently HPV positive, it may be that your PAP test 6 months before or after is negative if your body managed to eliminate the infection.
Most probably your partner is not going to get infected. Lesions in men are similar to those in women, though less common: penile warts in their great majority; penile dysplasia more rarely; and penile cancer extremely rarely. Condoms reduce significantly the risk of HPV transmission, still they do not eliminate it completely. An urologist-andrologist may examine the male patient for HPV infection.
YES, it is now. Tens of millions of HPV vaccine doses have been administered worldwide. The vaccine is being administered in Greece since 2007 without any trouble. We recommend the 4-strain vaccine over the 2-strain one. Teenage girls who have not had sexual intercourse yet are ideal vaccine candidates. Furthermore, young women up to 26 years old, who had sexual intercourse –even if a previous or new PAP test was HPV positive – may get the HPV vaccine.
This is an operation to remove the entire uterus, as well as the fallopian tubes & ovaries, and its quite common, in case of endometrial (uturine) cancer.
The first total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy, with complete lymph node dissection, was performed in Greece in 2004 by Dr. G. Hilaris and his team.
Laparotomy is still considered a reliable and trustworthy procedure for a trained surgeon to perform whenever deemed clinically necessary.