The HPV Virus and Post Hysterectomy Testing Instructions and Treatment
HPV or the "Human papillomavirus" includes more than 100 types of viruses and more than 40 types of viruses can be transferred through sexual contact.
The type of human papillomavirus that infects the genitals are called genital HPV or genital warts. HPV can have few or no symptoms and can lie dormant for years.
Some forms of the human papillomavirus can cause cancer of the cervix. High risk HPV are the types of HPV that can more often lead to cervical cancer. However just because you have high risk humanpapillomavirus does not mean you have cervical cancer. High risk forms of HPVcan cause changes on your cervix and your physician can monitor any changes when doing your regular Pap smears. People with high risk HPV should always make sure they get their regularly scheduled pap smears so that any changes in the cervix can be treated early.
Low risk HPV most often appears as genital warts. However in some cases people with low risk HPV never get genital warts and never have symptoms, thereby they are never aware they have HPV. The genital warts can develop over weeks, months, or even years after being infected by someone through sexual contact.
If you have ever had any form of HPV and have a hysterectomy you still must have vaginal cuff smears which are somewhat like pap smears even if the cervix is removed in the hysterectomy. This is because even with the cervix removal during the hysterectomy, the cancerous or precancerous cells can still return just as any form of HPV. This vaginal cuff smear is done by scraping the upper part of the vaginal vault and walls.
It is recommended that vaginal cuff smears be done approximately every three to six months.
HPV can infect the vagina vault, vulva and anus even after a hysterectomy and some forms of HPV can still cause cancer in those areas even after surgery. Women that have had cervical cancer are at significantly higher risk for cancer in other genital areas and should be checked regularly.