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Genital warts and abnormal smear years apart

Anxiousdaughter24
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Hi I had an abnormal smear CIN 3 with colposcopy treatment in 2005. I am in a happy marriage of 11 years one partner and I have just developed what I believe may be a genital warts, can the two be linked, should I seek some advice from my GP as I have read that the genital warts infection and cervical cancer are not linked and the infection can go on its own. But it worries me that I have had an abnormal smear in the past and cancer can develop many years later. I am up to date on my smear tests. Thank you 

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    Hi Anxiousdaughter

    there are many different strains of HPV, some high risk and some low risk. CIN3 is caused by a high risk strain, but not the same strain which causes genital warts, which is low risk HPV.. It is possible to carry more than one strain of a HPV at the same time though. You should make an appointment to see the doctor to confirm if you do actually have genital warts so you can have them treated, but genital warts are not associated with cervical cancer. 

  • Offline in reply to Minska

    Thank you Minska that makes me feel a little better, although I wonder how I may have developed a wart/STI after 11 years of marriage, can the virus be in me and develop from before I met my husband or is it likely I have caught it from him since :( which would be heart breaking. 

  • Offline in reply to Anxiousdaughter24

    There is no way of telling when or from whom you picked up the virus. It could have been many years ago. If you had CIN3 in 2005, then you had HPV then as HPV causes the abnormal cells to develop (which is CIN). 

    Once you have the virus, you will always have it but it can become dormant and not cause any issues. When it’s active, perhaps because your immune system is low, it can cause abnormal cells to develop

    Having HPV is nothing to be ashamed of-almost everyone who has ever been sexually active and has genital contact is likely to come in contact with it and you can have it for years and not know you do. Your husband would be unaware if he had it as there is no test for men. It can lie dormant in your body for years, and then become active and has the potential to cause cell damage. Do get yourself checked out though, as if you have warts they should be removed. 

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    Hi, can I ask what it ended up being please? 

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