JOURNAL ENTRY · 4 MIN READ
This writing has been rumbling inside my head for a while now, especially as I've come across a few misconceptions around HPV and what it is, or what it means for you and your sexual partners. To preface this as a disclaimer, I am not a medical professional. This is my own recent lived experience. I am also a total nerd and when I come up against something that I had scant knowledge of, other than what "you hear", you can bet your ass that I've been down multiple rabbit holes in order to best inform myself. So, it feels like a good time as any for me to write this.
I want to keep this simple. So, facts first:
- HPV stands for human papillomavirus infection.
- Approx 90% of sexually active amab (assigned male at birth, or penis owners), and around 80% of sexually active afab (assigned female at birth, or uterus owners), have had a HPV infection by the time they are 25 to 30 years of age (historically).
- Most young folx living in OECD countries under 25 have had the HPV vaccine, which is included within the vaccine schedule in your teens.
- Teenage males and queer/non binary folx can also have the vaccine. Yes, including gay cis women.
- While it is mostly asymptomatic, occasionally it can cause physical symptoms, such as genital warts, which do go away on their own for some folx. This is not related to HSV at all.
- HPV can be transmitted by not just solely unprotected penetrative sexual activity, but also via unprotected oral, anal and intimate skin contact, particularly if there is broken skin present.
- The human papillomavirus has been shown to be a factor in oral, throat and anal cancers. Including for amab.
- There is now a self test that has taken place of cervical PAP smears in Aotearoa NZ, started only just a few months ago.
- It is free via your GP, although you do still have to pay for the appointment itself. But, my GP did state that you can take it home, then just take it to a local lab.
- However, there is currently no screening process for amab. Quite possibly a moot point, given that the impact of the virus affects afab more and is a direct factor in cervical cancer.
- The HPV self test has an accuracy rate of up to approximately 85%.
- The rates of cervical screening in other OECD countries have risen thanks to the self testing kits. Which means more afab are being screened and treated early.
- Our immune systems clear a HPV infection efficiently within weeks. This is why you usually won't ever know you've had an active infection, nor now carry the virus.
- The HPV self test isn't included in routine sexual health screenings, so you can be given the all clear regardless.
- Having a positive HPV cervical screening isn't a death sentence, nor is it the end of your sexual life.
- The most at risk positive HPV results tend to be HPV-16 and HPV-18. And of those, only a very, very small percentage is cancer. This is why regular cervical screenings are important.
And, so, on to me. I had my first HPV self test in December. My last PAP was in late 2019, so I was very late in doing it. It came back as showing a positive for HPV-16. This saw me automatically referred to the gynecology clinic at the hospital for a colposcopy.
Because I had a positive HPV test result, this actually does not mean that I have an active infection currently. This shows that I have come into contact with this particular strain of the human papillomavirus at one point in the last... counts... 25 years. Holy fuck, I'm getting old. Anyway. This does not mean that I have a current infection, and also does not mean that I may be able to transmit it on to another sexual partner. The chances are very high, within my age group, that we all have come into contact with it, regardless. It just indicates that I have been in contact with this specific strain, and that it's caused abnormal cellular changes in the cells that are on my cervix. These kind of changes also take several years, suspected to be up to a decade for some, to occur, so any previous PAP or HPV test will have been negative and clear.
This does hammer home to me, however, the importance of safe sex, and regular sexual health screenings. In the past seven years, since I have been practicing ENM/polyamory, regular sexual health screenings have been of utmost importance to me, not only to protect myself but also my partners, their partners, and so on. My last screen was in August of last year, and that was clear, as it usually is. I tend to do the screenings every three to six months, depending on my relationships, etc. In fact, the specialist I had for my colposcopy, was really pleased to see how thorough I usually am with taking care of myself when she went through my medical health records.
I had to have a punch biopsy yesterday, because the specialist was able to visually detect low grade abnormal cells on my cervix, possibly high grade. It will take four weeks for the biopsy results to come through. But, I have faith in that I actually had the cervical screening at a good time. If I'd waited a few more months? And I am super grateful that I was able to do it, and just having the self test was amazing. No awkwardness having to lie down pants off with a scratchy sheet on, them fumbling trying to find the entrance to your vaginal canal, have a speculum inserted, that weird tingle when the swab scrapes against your cervix, etc. Sure, I ended up having a punch biopsy yesterday and I need to have further tests due to a few other uterine things, but... Small change, I can take that, and other than cramps for a few hours, I've also had no bleeding at all. I'll also keep you folx updated if you like. But at this point, I'm not worried at all that I may have cervical cancer.
So, the takeaway from this is;
- A positive HPV swab doesn't mean that you have cancer. It means that you did an excellent job on caring for yourself that it was caught in time.
- It also does not mean that you are currently experiencing an active infection.
- Practicing safe sexual health, including cervical screenings, is important.
- Lastly... No, it doesn't mean that you have to live with the stigma of a transmitted disease. This includes all sexually transmitted conditions. Most can be solved, most can be lived with, most can be without stigma. It is not something to be ashamed of, nor is it something to shame others for either.
If you made it this far, thank you for reading. It means a lot to me. 💜
Dall
Comments
Post a Comment