Hi jojo99,
The "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" (CDC) and the
"American Social Health Association" (ASHA) both have reliable
information about HPV. For the most part, that's where my Answers to
your Questions were found. There's a ton of reports for you to browse
here:
CDC's Web site for HPV:
MAIN PAGE: http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/default.htm
...and here:
ASHA's HPV page:
MAIN PAGE: http://www.ashastd.org/hpvccrc/gw.html
========================================================================
HERE ARE YOUR ANSWERS
========================================================================
- Is Aldara the best treatment available?
ANSWER: Aldara is one of two common "use at home" prescription remedies.
Scroll to "REGIMENS"
http://www.cdc.gov/STD/treatment/6-2002TG.htm#HumanPapillomavirusInfection
..."No definitive evidence suggests that any of the available
treatments is superior to the others, and no single treatment is ideal
for all patients or all warts..."
Here's information about the two cream treatments, and other treatments
that are available. As sto what is the best treatment *for you* --that would
depend on your individual case. If you were prescribed the Aldara, then I
would assume that you have already been evaluated and are receiving the best
treatment for "your case."
American Social Health Association
HPV: Get the Facts - External Genital Warts
http://www.ashastd.org/hpvccrc/gw.html#treated
..."At-home prescription creams. These are only available by a prescription
from a doctor:
* Podofilox cream or gel (Condylox®). This is a self-applied treatment
for external genital warts. It may be less expensive than treatment done in a
health care provider's ofice, is easy to use and is safe, but it must be used
for about 4 weeks.
* Imiquimod cream (Aldara®). This is also a self-applied treatment for
external genital warts. It is safe, effective and easy to use. This cream is
different than other commonly-used treatments, which work by destroying the
wart tissue. Aldara actually boosts the immune system to fight HPV..."
..."How are genital warts treated?
* While there is no medical cure for HPV, there are several treatment
options available for genital warts.
* The goal of any treatment should be to remove visible genital warts to
get rid of annoying symptoms. No one treatment is best for all cases.
* Treating the warts may possibly help reduce the risk of transmission to
a partner who may have never been exposed to the wart-types of HPV.
* When choosing what treatment to use, the health care provider will
consider the size, location and number of warts, changes in the warts,
patient preference, cost of treatment, convenience, adverse effects, and
their own experience with the treatments.
* Some treatments are done in a clinic or doctor's office; others are
prescription creams that can be used at home for many weeks.
Treatments done in the doctor's office include:
* Cryotherapy (freezing off the wart with liquid nitrogen). This can be
relatively inexpensive, but must be done by a trained doctor or nurse.
* Podophyllin (a chemical compound that must be applied by a doctor or
nurse). This is an older treatment and is not as widely used today.
* TCA (trichloracetic acid) is another chemical applied to the surface of
the wart by a doctor or a nurse.
* Cutting off warts. This has the advantage of getting rid of warts in a
single office visit.
* Electrocautery (burning off warts with an electrical current).
* Laser therapy (using an intense light to destroy warts).This is used
for larger or extensive warts, especially those that have not responded well
to other treatments. Laser can also cost a lot of money. Most doctors do not
have lasers in their office and the doctor must be well-trained with this
method.
* Interferon (a substance injected in to the wart). This is rarely used
anymore due to extensive side effects and high cost. Less expensive therapies
work just as well with fewer side effects.
ALso, the CDC has a great page regarding treatment:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Treatment Guidelines 2002
Human Papillomavirus Infection
http://www.cdc.gov/STD/treatment/6-2002TG.htm#HumanPapillomavirusInfection
I have used this page as my source material in several of these answers.
========================================================================
- I understand around 66% of people who are sexually active with more
than one partner have HPV symptoms, most of the "hidden". Is this
correct?
ANSWER: YES, but tyour numbers are a abit low.
HPV Statistics
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/mfrisby/statistics.htm
========================================================================
- What is the difference between someone with "hidden" HPV (no warts,
or only microscopic warts) and someone with visible warts in terms of
how infectious that person is to sexual partners?
ANSWER: Nothing really, except the method of detection, and the fact
there are no visible warts..
SCROLL TO: Subclinical Genital HPV Infection (Without Exophytic Warts)
http://www.cdc.gov/STD/treatment/6-2002TG.htm#HumanPapillomavirusInfection
..."Subclinical genital HPV infection is a term often used to refer to
manifestations of infection in the absence of genital warts, including
situations where infection is detected on the cervix by Pap test,
colposcopy, or biopsy; on the penis, vulva, or other genital skin by
the appearance of white areas after application of acetic acid; or on
any genital skin by a positive test for HPV.....Subclinical genital
HPV infection occurs more frequently than visible genital warts among
both men and women..."
SCROLL TO: Management of Sex Partners
http://www.cdc.gov/STD/treatment/6-2002TG.htm#HumanPapillomavirusInfection
..."Examination of sex partners is unnecessary. Most sex partners of
infected patients probably are already infected subclinically with
HPV. No screening tests for subclinical infection are available.
Likewise, whether patients who have subclinical HPV infection are as
infectious as patients who have exophytic warts is unknown..."
========================================================================
- What exactly are the risks of having oral sex in my condition (in
terms of infecting my partner)?
ANSWER: Oral HPV exists. WEAR A CONDOM, PERIOD. As a woman, I can
assure you, I, and every female I know, would be P***ED as H**L if I
was diagnosed with ORAL HPV.
SCROLL TO: Recommended Regimens for Oral Warts:
http://www.cdc.gov/STD/treatment/6-2002TG.htm#HumanPapillomavirusInfection
Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen - OR - Surgical removal.
THANKS for asking --it means you are concerned about transmission.
========================================================================
- Is it true to say that I'm in the same position as 70% of males who
are sexually active with more than one partner?
ANSWER: Sort of. The statistice are that 75% of humans will contract
HPV "in their lifetime."
Scroll to "TREATMENT"
http://www.cdc.gov/STD/treatment/6-2002TG.htm#HumanPapillomavirusInfection
Existing data indicate that currently available therapies for genital
warts may reduce, but probably do not eradicate, infectivity. Whether
the reduction in viral DNA that results from current treatment
regimens impacts future transmission remains unclear.
========================================================================
- Is it perfectly safe from the HPV aspect to have sexual intercourse
with a condom?
ANSWER: As long as the exposed warts remain convered during ANY type
of sexual contact --YES.
========================================================================
- Will my situation change in any way once (and if) the warts
disappear following the Aldara treatment?
ANSWER: NO. After the warts are gone, you still have the virus. You
still need to wear a condom because the why's of transmission are
unknown.
========================================================================
Additional Links you will find useful:
HOTLINES - ANSWERS VIA EMAIL FROM THE CDC - HPVC CHATROOM - PAMPHLET BY MAIL
http://www.ashastd.org/hotlines/hpvhotline.html
ASHA Support Group Information
http://www.ashastd.org/hpvccrc/hpvsupport.html
ASHA's - National HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention Resource Center
http://www.ashastd.org/hpvccrc/index.html
~~ Accurate and up-to-date information about HPV and cervical cancer prevention.
~~ Source for referrals such as local HPV support groups.
~~ Voice to increase the awareness of HPV and cervical cancer
prevention through the mass media.
~~ Sponsor for medical research on HPV.
The Right Way to Use a Condom
http://www.ashastd.org/stdfaqs/condom_a.html
Clicking on links from this page contains graphically explicit
instructions on using male and female condoms.
If I can be of further assistance in regards to HPV, please don't
hesitate to ask via the "Request For Clarification" feature.
~~Cynthia
Search terms used at Google;
Aldara hpv CDC |
Request for Answer Clarification by
jojo99-ga
on
03 Jan 2005 14:57 PST
Hi Cynthia-ga,
Thanks for the detailed answer. I think you pretty much answered all
of my questions. I'd appreciate two clarifications to your answer:
Quote 1:
(I understand around 66% of people who are sexually active with more
than one partner have HPV symptoms, most of the "hidden". Is this
correct?)
>>ANSWER: YES, but tyour numbers are a abit low.
>>
>>HPV Statistics
>>http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/mfrisby/statistics.htm
- If I understand correctly, 3 out of every 4 sexually active people
will probably be HPV carriers - even if they never had any visible
symptoms - And can possibly infect their partners. Is this really
correct?? if so, this world has just become *a lot* more dangerous
than I thought...
Quote 2:
(- Is it perfectly safe from the HPV aspect to have sexual intercourse
with a condom?)
>>ANSWER: As long as the exposed warts remain convered during ANY type
>>of sexual contact --YES.
To make sure I understand this:
1. Regardless of having exposed warts at a given time, once a person
has been diagnosed once with HPV, any unprotected intercourse (of any
kind) this person will be involved in for the rest of his/her life has
the risk of being infectious?
2. Sorry if I'm repeating myself... If the above is true, it should
actually be applied to anyone who has NOT been diagnosed with HPV
since all of us actually have a 75% chance of having HPV whether this
has been diagnosed or not. So has our partner, which statistically
means that if you pick 2 random sexually active people, there's a ~95%
chance that at least one of them has HPV. All this makes unprotected
sex simply a non-option as far as I understand. Do you agree?
Again, thanks for your answers and time.
|
Clarification of Answer by
cynthia-ga
on
04 Jan 2005 00:42 PST
jojo99,
I don't have a 100% clear answer, but I'm positive your assumptions
are not far from the actual truth.
Not only is infection very difficult to diagnose, sometimes infections
spontaneously clear up either with or without treatment. Some
infections are persistent and never go away. The reasons WHY this is
the case are unknown. There is no way to determine WHO has WHAT type
of infection.
The statistics are very difficult to interpret mainly because
infections sometimes clear up on their own. I don't want to interpret
the statistics, but your question is very valid.
I WOULD CALL THE 800 NUMBER listed at the bottom of my Answer and talk
to the CDC's STD clinic directly.
Condom use is known to REDUCE chances of transmission, but again,
studies of whether condoms are effective in reductions of transmission
are sketchy. It's difficult to come up with reliable studies when
condoms are used because there are too many variables: location of
warts, measuring condom use, type of HPV (there are over 100 strains,
some more resiliant and persistent than others)... Also, it's
possible to have unseen --infectious-- microscopic warts that are NOT
covered by the condom. ALso, this does not begin to address *hidden*
infections. All in all, these facts make accurate studies difficult.
All in all, CONDOMS ARE A NECESSITY. Even if *you* get a clean bill
of health, the statistics on women carriers are staggering. You could
easily become reinfected. In fact, it's almost a certainty. Simply
asking a woman about STD's is not enough since most infections are
silent and women are unaware they are infected.
As stated in the excerpt below, the only way to prevent infection or
transmission is ABSTINENCE. Barring that, choose a monogomous partner
and both get tested PRIOR to any activity. After that, reducing the
number of partners you have, and condom use are the only preventions.
................ EXCERPTS ...............
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION - REPORT TO CONGRESS
PREVENTION OF GENITAL HPV - JANUARY 2004
http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/2004HPV%20Report.pdf
(pleease read entire report, the bibliography starts on page 20 so
it's not really 35 pages)
On Page 3 of the Executive Summary:
...'Genital infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is very common
in sexually active men and women and can sometimes have serious health
consequences. About 20 million Americans are currently infected, and
about 5.5 million people become newly infected each year. The virus
can infect the genital skin and the linings of the vagina, cervix,
rectum, and urethra. Most infections cause no clinical problems and go
away on their own without treatment. Some infections lead to genital
warts in men and women, and abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) tests in
women. Treatments are directed to abnormal cells associated with HPV
rather than the virus itself; currently there is no curative treatment
for HPV infection.......
.....All published epidemiologic studies of HPV have methodologic
limitations that make the effect of condoms in the prevention of HPV
infection unknown. While a few studies on genital HPV and condom use
showed a protective effect, most studies on genital HPV infection and
condom use did not show a protective effect. Recognizing that the
optimal study design to ensure valid measurements can be problematic,
it remains important that further research be done to help determine
the efficacy of condoms in preventing HPV infection.....
.....Nevertheless, available studies suggest that condoms reduce the
risk of the clinically important outcomes of genital warts and
cervical cancer. One possible explanation for the protective effect of
condoms against warts and cancer is that condom use could reduce the
quantity of HPV transmitted or decrease the likelihood of re-exposure,
thereby decreasing the chance of developing clinical disease.....
.....The available scientific evidence is not sufficient to recommend
condoms as a primary prevention strategy for the prevention of genital
HPV infection..."
MOVING ON TO PAGE 4 and 5:
,,,"Individual Strategies
? The surest way to eliminate the risk for future genital HPV
infections is to refrain from any genital contact with another
individual.
? For those who choose to be sexually active, a long-term, mutually
monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner is the strategy
most likely to prevent future genital HPV infections. However, it is
difficult to determine whether a partner who has been sexually active
in the past is currently infected.
? For those choosing to be sexually active and who are not in
long-term mutually monogamous relationships, reducing the number of
sexual partners and choosing a partner less likely to be infected may
reduce the risk of genital HPV infection. Partners less likely to be
infected include those who have had no or few prior sex partners.
? While available scientific evidence suggests that the effect of
condoms in preventing HPV infection is unknown, condom use has been
associated with lower rates of the HPV-associated diseases of genital
warts and cervical cancer. The available scientific evidence is not
sufficient to recommend condoms as a primary prevention strategy
forthe prevention of genital HPV infection. There is evidence that
indicates that the use of condoms may reduce the risk of cervical
cancer.
? Regular cervical cancer screening for all sexually active women and
treatment of precancerous lesions remains the key strategy to prevent
cervical cancer.
? In the future, receiving a safe and effective HPV vaccine to help
prevent genital HPV infection as well as the HPV-associated diseases
of genital warts and cervical cancer would be an important prevention
measure. However, an effective HPV vaccine would not replace other
prevention strategies..."
ON PAGE 8:
..."Incidence and Prevalence of Genital HPV Infection
.....Accurately assessing the extent of genital HPV infection in the
U.S. population has been difficult for many reasons. Data on
prevalence and incidence of HPV infection are limited because there is
no routine screening for HPV infection, and it is often unclear
whether a newly diagnosed infection is recently acquired or
longstanding......
.....the magnitude of genital HPV infection is derived from
extrapolations of epidemiologic studies. Studies that detect HPV DNA
measure current infection, and studies that detect HPV antibodies
using blood tests provide approximations of lifetime infection.
Overall, in the United States, an estimated 20 million people (15% of
the population) are currently infected with HPV, 50?75% of which is
with high-risk types, and about 5.5 million people are infected every
year (1). It has been estimated that at least 50% of sexually active
men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their
lives; a recent estimate suggests that 80% of women will have acquired
genital HPV by age 50 (15;16). An estimated 9.2 million sexually
active adolescents and young adults 15 to 24 years of age are
currently infected with HPV (17)......
.....Studies have found that the prevalence of HPV infection is lowest
in women who have never had sexual intercourse (18-21). Genital HPV
infection is especially common among sexually active young women (less
than 25 years of age), with prevalence decreasing with older age
(22-30). While results vary by population studied, and sampling and
detection methods used, overall they indicate that prevalence of
genital HPV infection in sexually active young women in the United
States ranges from 17?84% (22-29); most studies have reported a
prevalence greater than 30% (22;23;25-27). In a study conducted in
Portland, Oregon, 32% of young women ages 16 to 24 years had genital
HPV DNA detected versus only 4% of women ages older than 45 years
(24)......
.....The prevalence of genital HPV infection in men is more difficult
to assess because it is not clear which are the optimal anatomic sites
or specimens to test. Most published studies have been conducted
outside the United States, in men attending STD or university clinics,
or among male partners of women with HPV infection. HPV DNA can be
detected at various anogenital sites, including the penis, urethra,
scrotum, or anus, as well as in urine and semen (44-56). In
heterosexual men, infection is most commonly detected on the penis
(54-57). A recent study that evaluated HPV DNA in the distal penis
(urethra, glans, coronal sulcus, foreskin) documented higher
prevalence of infection in uncircumcised men than in circumcised men
(19.6% vs. 5.5%) (46). Prevalence of genital HPV infection in
heterosexual men in the populations studied ranges from 16?45%;
detection is highly dependent on the anatomic sites or specimens
tested (e.g., urine, semen) (45;46;49;52). Risk factors for HPV
detection in men include greater lifetime number of sex partners,
number of recent sex partners, being uncircumcised, or current genital
warts (45;46;52). The relationship of young age with HPV detection is
not as consistent in men as in women (45;49;52)......
.....Antibody prevalence is substantially higher in populations with
greater sexual activity. For example, a study of patients attending a
U.S. STD clinic found HPV-16 antibody prevalence rates of 55% in women
and 33% in men (62).....
ON PAGE 10;
.....Natural History of Genital HPV Infection
Most HPV infections are transient and asymptomatic, causing no
clinical problems. Studies have shown that 70% of new HPV infections
clear within one year, and as many as 91% clear within two years
(28;33;67;68). The median duration of new infections is typically
eight months (28;67). HPV-16 is more likely to persist than other HPV
types (28); however, most HPV-16 infections become undetectable within
two years (28). Factors associated with persistence include older age,
high-risk HPV types, infection with multiple HPV types, and immune
suppression (69;70). The gradual development of an effective immune
response is thought to be the likely mechanism for HPV DNA
clearance......
PAGE 12:
.....Other types of genital contact in the absence of penetrative
intercourse (oral-genital, manual-genital, and genital-genital
contact) leading to HPV transmission have been described, but these
routes of transmission are less common than sexual intercourse
(21;88-90). For example, a recent study of college-aged women in
Seattle reported a two-year genital HPV incidence rate of 39% among
sexually active women and 8% among women who had not engaged in
penetrative vaginal intercourse......
PAGE 13:
.....Reducing Efficiency of Transmission
Efficiency of transmission, or the likelihood that an infection will
be transmitted from an infected person to an uninfected person, can be
affected by several variables, such as immunity. However, for STD, the
most common approach is the use of physical barriers such as condoms.
In the future, other methods that may decrease the likelihood that an
infection will be transmitted could include chemical barriers, such as
microbicides or a combination of chemical and physical
approaches......
Condoms
.....,As described above, available clinical and epidemiologic data
indicate that genital HPV infection is transmitted by contact with
infected skin or mucosa. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that
latex condoms provide an essentially impermeable barrier to particles
the size of HPV (125;126). Studies of HPV infection in men demonstrate
that most HPV infections (both HPV DNA and HPV-associated lesions) are
located on parts of the penis that would be covered by a condom
(48;54-57;63;127-129). However, even consistent and correct use of
condoms would not be expected to offer complete protection from HPV
infection because infections also may occur on sites not covered or
protected by a condom. In men, HPV infection can occur on the scrotum,
groin area, base of the penis, and anus (54-57). In women, HPV
infection can occur on the outside of the vulva, which can come into
contact with the genital skin of a man using a condom.....
PAGE 15 and 16:
.....Given these observations, as well as the facts that laboratory
studies show that latex condoms provide a barrier to HPV and that most
genital HPV in men is located on areas of the skin covered by a
condom, the cumulative body of available scientific evidence suggests
that condoms may provide some protection in preventing transmission of
HPV infections but that protection is partial at best....."
===================================================================
jojo,
I find this all very disturbing, as I'm sure you do. I urge you to
call the 24 hour hotline and post back here what they say. You can
also use their email service if you don't feel comfortable asking
someone on the phone.
I have always thought the Bush Administrations' SEXUAL ABSTINANCE
program was unrealistic, but after reading this report, I can see WHY
they are pushing it. Too bad other folks don't get it. To illustrate
the point, I THOUGHT I WAS WELL-INFORMED. I was very wrong. After
answering this question, I am going in for a HPV screening and pap
smear. Considering I am single, and sexually active, I now realize my
chances of infection are over 50%. This is downright scary.
With the relationship between some HPV strains and cervical cancer,
I'm surprised more women don't get regular screenings, except that
this topic is not discussed much. I'm rapidly becoming convinced we
are a society that would rather stick our head in the sand than alter
our sexual behavior. So sad.
I certainly wouldn't mind, AT ALL, if you had additional questions, or
would like me to find other reliable sources for you to compare
findings.
~~~Cynthia
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
jojo99-ga
on
04 Jan 2005 01:35 PST
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks so much. I live outside of America, and here too education
seems very lacking. I faithfully ran HIV tests with all of my sexual
partners before having unprotected sex, but had no idea that even
though we were apparently healthy we had, like you said, a 50+% chance
of getting infected with HPV (which I have now been diagnosed with).
All this really makes me re-think my whole attitude to my sex life.
For women (with HPV being a primary cause for cervical cancer) I
imagine this information is probably even harder to digest.
I have an appointment with an STD doctor in about a week's time. I'll
post any new information I receive there in this thread.
In the meantime I have one point I'm not certain of:
"Studies have shown that 70% of new HPV infections clear within one
year, and as many as 91% clear within two years"
What does it mean exactly when an infection "clears"? is the person no
longer infectious after this occurs? do you know the name of the
medical test (particularly for males) that can diagnose this with
certainty?
If the virus has a chance of simply disappearing at a certain point
this is very good news for me...
Thanks as always,
jojo
|
Clarification of Answer by
cynthia-ga
on
04 Jan 2005 02:37 PST
jojo,
Thanks so much for the 5 stars and the generous tip!
I'll try to sum it up.
It is true that approximately 75% of the US population will contract
HPV sometime in their lifetime. It is also true there are over 100
different strains of HPV, some being more virulent than others, and at
the same time, some being more persistant and ongoing than others. At
least half of HPV infections will clear up on their own, probably even
before detection. Yes, you read the section correctly, most cases DO
clear up. Those statistics are high. You should be hopeful. The
concern though is that OTHER PEOPLE don't know when they are infected.
The oral sex aspect is horrid, from both the male and female
perspective, both giving and receiving.
To illustrate, in my case, with all the projected likely infections,
VERY FEW people I have ever known have told me they were aware they
were infected, or HAD BEEN in the past. Although the topic is rarely
discussesd, statistically, AT LEAST 60% of my family and friends have
likely had it once in their lives.
This is the epitome of a SILENT EPIDEMIC.
This part was very disturbing to me:
Management of Sex Partners
http://www.cdc.gov/STD/treatment/6-2002TG.htm#HumanPapillomavirusInfection
..."Examination of sex partners is unnecessary. Most sex partners of
infected patients probably are already infected subclinically with
HPV. No screening tests for subclinical infection are available.
Likewise, whether patients who have subclinical HPV infection are as
infectious as patients who have exophytic warts is unknown..."
======
...That statement was in a Report To CONGRESS in 2003. It was by the
CDC, the most respected disease agency in the US. That is scary. They
are in essence saying partners should Just assume they have contracted
it, there is no accurate test to determine contraction in it's early
stages, and whether you are infectious at that stage is unknown.
I will look for the name of that test for you. I have a question
locked that requires a long report, and it will be a couple days
before I get back to you.
What country and city are you in?
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
jojo99-ga
on
04 Jan 2005 03:04 PST
Tel Aviv, Israel...
-jojo
|
Clarification of Answer by
cynthia-ga
on
07 Jan 2005 00:43 PST
jojo,
Not good news I'm afraid. There is no test for HPV in men, except in
a research setting, unless they have visibile warts. Visual
inspection IS the test. Women are tested only to determine if the
type of HPV she has puts her at high risk for cervical cancer. It is
possible for a man to be treated and the warts to go away and to still
be infected. It just as easily might have totally run it's course,
and left the body like the common cold, or the flu. There is simply
no way to tell.
REFERENCE:
Near the bottom, 4th bullet just above "CREDITS"
HPV testing is done only for women. Currently, HPV testing for men is
done only in a research setting.
The HPV Test - Is It For You?
http://www.baymoon.com/~hpvinfo/library/weekly/aa060601a.htm
REGARDING MEN:
..."Should everyone be screened? No, definitely not. When a virus is
endemic in the population, and usually causes no problems, it is
probably not helpful to test everyone. With regards to sexual
activity, is is best to assume that everyone is infected. This is
especially true because there is not yet any good HPV screening test
for males..."
REGARDING WOMEN:
..."What is the HPV test? The Digene Hybrid Capture® HPV test checks
for so-called "high risk", or oncogenic types of HPV. So far, about
120 types of HPV have been isolated. About 30 can infect the genital
tract, and nine have been found to be related to cancer, although 85%
of cervical cancers are related to only four types of HPV (16, 18, 31,
and 45).
How is the test performed? At the time a Pap test is done, some of the
material can be saved to be tested for HPV if theThinPrep® type of Pap
test is used. Otherwise, a separate collection has to be done for the
HPV test, which is a similar procedure to that of a Pap test. The name
of the test is the Digene HPV Test..."
I tried tio find you a Tel Aviv STD clinic number to call and ask
questions. I was unsucessful. You might try your local phone
directory, but I don't think they will tell you anything different
from the CDC web site.
~~Cynthia
|
