New Here... Just found out I need a LEEP procedure done

Hello everyone,
Im a 24 year old female from the Northeast.
I have been dealing with this for about 6 months now...
It all started when I started bleeding abnormally during sex. I went to my doctor, got tested for every STD you can possibly imagine anyone having. Everything came back negative but I tested positive for Bacterial Vaginosis. I also had a Pap which came back abnormal, and that I had high-grade dysplasia. About a month later I went in for a biopsy (colpos..i dont know how to spell it). That came back showing no abnormal cells or anything. My doctor wanted to just be sure everything was ok, so he sent me for a second one at the oncology unit of the hospital.
I just got the call back today that there were signs of high grade dysplasia and some dysplasia in the vaginal canal. So my next step is going for the LEEP which is in a couple of weeks.

I guess Im just on here and writing because I feel so ashamed about having HPV and needing to go through all this. Like somehow, I could have prevented getting this and wouldnt have to tell my BF about it. Im so embarrassed and angry at my exboyfriend who most likely gave me BV, HPV, and Chlamydia last year. (he was the only person I slept with for about 5 years... sooo unless I was sleepwalking having sex with random men then it had to be him)
Im not sure what to do about it, or how to go about telling my current BF about this... I know its common, but I just want to cry.
Just some thoughts I guess... Im not sure how people respond on here but its nice to have a place to just get it out.

By corellin
Posted November 19, 2008 at 11:45 pm
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hi legalbeagle -- I'm so sorry you're dealing with HPV. And, it's hard to know where/when you got HPV because it really only takes one partner and, in young women, high grade dysplasia can occur fairly quickly or... it could be something that takes years to develop after exposure. It's difficult to prevent HPV because even condoms used correctly 100% of the time are only 50-70% effective. If your current boyfriend is not a virgin, then it's very likely he has already been exposed to HPV and may even have acquired it prior to you. HPV is very common and because no one knows when they have it, we keep passing it around in the population. Have you been able to clear the BV and chlamydia? It's really important to clear all vaginal infections, avoid tampons, douching or anything that might irritate the vagina/cervix and take extra precautions to get lots of rest, eat well (fresh fruits & vegetables) and all the things a person normally does to stay healthy. That will give you the best chance of clearing the HPV. If you've not yet had sex with your new boyfriend, you might want to wait (or at least use condoms) until you're testing negative for HPV. That will protect him and also you from possibly acquiring another HPV infection. It has been my experience that men are generally supportive and feel really bad when women are going through HPV/dysplasia. I know it's hard, but I think the best way to tell someone is just to tell them and explain what's happening to you and what you're feeling. Hopefully he will become your ally and support you in dealing with HPV.

By bethieboo
Posted November 21, 2008 at 10:21 am
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Hi LegalBeagle26,
First of all - you have NOTHING to be ashamed of. HPV is the most common STD and men don't know they have it unless they break out in warts. There are over 100 strands of it.... you can never be sure where or when you got this or if you even got if from sex. It can lay dormant for 10 years before your immune system no longer fights it and it makes it's apperance. Just like the chicken pox or shingles virus.
As far as BV - it doesn't take a man to give you this.... and actually this isn't something a man has to pass on - it's something women get and it CAN come from having multiple sex partners or him having multiple sex partners... it's nothing more than a build up of bacteria. The female body is a bacteria haven and sometimes you can do everything right and still get BV - just as some women are more prone to yeast infections... which if you didn't know it BV is more common than a yeast infection.
Your current boyfriend has already been exposed to the hpv virus and right now there is no test on the market for men.... they remain carriers! And - you could have gotten it from him. Read up on the hpv virus at cancer.org or cdc.gov before sharing the news with him!!!
Whatever you do - don't you ever be ashamed of the hpv or BV.... it doesn't mean your dirty or did anything wrong - both of them you can get outside of having sex - it's just that sex is the primary source!!
I don't like the bleeding issue so you be sure to get that Leep done and keep us posted... and don't worry - the leep is a piece of cake!
Hope that helps!

By flowershoplady
Posted November 21, 2008 at 6:21 pm
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legalbeagle, i'm sorry to hear you're dealing with hpv and cervical dysplasia, along with other gyn problems. i know it may feel like you're alone....but really you're not. i think the anger towards someone else for giving you an std is very normal, but keep in mind that he probably gave you these std's unknowingly since most of these stds result in no symptoms in a man. many of us feel a stigma with having hpv, but really, it 'just' means you've had sex. you can get hpv from just one partner. and, look around you, and count the women, and know that 80% of them will have an active hpv infection by the time they're 50 years old, but most won't even know it because it doesn't cause problems in most women. as corellin said in her post, clearing up the vaginal infections will also help you clear the hpv infection (hpv 'likes' infection and inflammation). talking with your boyfriend isn't going to be easy, but hopefully you've developed a good relationship with him, and he'll be supportive of you and your health, and with knowledge will understand the impact of hpv on both of you. be good to yourself, and take one step at a time. sending gentle hugs...

By bevvy
Posted November 30, 2008 at 1:49 pm
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Hi Legal,
I too felt like you do. I was embarrassed and ashamed. It was hard to tell my boyfriend that I had a STD but needed to. At first he was or acted supportive - wanted to watch the tape on the procedure that my doctor offered however, when it came within 2 weeks of my procedure he took off and had already hooked up with another woman. I emailed him all the info. I could find on HPV and how serious it was for him to use care with his new "friend". He told me that he "was clean" as he had a physical and what I had was from my prior relationships and not him. I had a boyfriend for three years before him and my paps always came back normal until this guy. As everyone else has stated....there isn't any way of telling who it came from but he is now a carrier if he wasn't before. My doctor stated that all it takes is one time to contract this and condoms are a help but not 100% assured. If you were a virgin but your partner wasn't, you still have a high rate of contracting HPV. Which means everyone is at risk of contracting it in their lifetime unless both partners have never been sexually active and that's uncommon in today's society!! Since finding out I had HPV I am amazed at how many of my friends have had it also. I no longer feel "dirty" but feel stupid for believing the "ex" that he had only one partner prior......live and learn and that I did. I had the LEEP 2 weeks ago and wished I had done it back when it was originally scheduled. My advice to you is to get it done and over with. It wasn't as bad as I had it in mind that it would be.........plus......they have to tell you the worse so you know what to expect. Good luck and keep me posted.

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