r/HPV

Hi everyone,

A few weeks ago I got the results from an at-home test for hrHPV which was positive. I then went in for a smear test and I got the results today. Translated from Dutch, the report showed:

✅ Adequate sample (B1)
✅ Cells from the cervical canal were present (K1)
✅ No inflammation (O6)
✅ No glandular abnormalities (C1)
✅ No other abnormalities (A1)
⚠️ Mild dysplasia / LSIL (P4)

It also mentioned hrHPV but not 16 or 18. Unsure about the exact strain but I might be able to find out. The Dutch PAP code is 3a. Apparently 2 or higher + 16 or 18 means referral to a gynaecologist, but because mine isn’t either of those strains, they recommend a follow up test in a year.

So only HPV-related changes in the squamous (outer surface) cells. My last smear test in 2022 was normal.

On the one hand, I’m relieved that the result wasn’t more serious, but on the other hand disappointed and uneasy that something was found. I do realise this result is very common. My partner also seems uneasy around intimacy now, which I hope we can resolve since it is highly likely we share the same strand(s) anyway. I really hope it won’t get in the way of things.

For those who managed to clear LSIL, did you make any lifestyle changes? I want to support my body in the best way I can.

I appreciate any comments or encouraging stories 🙏🏻 I will 100% go for my follow-up smear test and stay on top of this.

My only concern is that I intend to move from the Netherlands to Scotland within a year. I’m considering to postpone my official move until after my next smear test so that I can undergo any further tests or treatments in my home country. But then again, maybe I’m just overreacting?

I read a lot of helpful things here on Reddit from all you wonderful women. Thanks. <3

I'm just wondering what brands of AHCC y'all take. I saw Quality of life being mentioned a lot? But then you have the Platinum (higher dosage so cheaper) of the 50+ which has probiotics (so better)? Any other brands that worked for you guys?

Another question: I read that you best take 3g a day. Do you take them all on an empty stomach in the morning? Or divided during the day?

Oh, yeah, I seem to have more headaches since I'm taking the AHCC (currently only 1mg Kinoko 50 to let my body adjust to it). Anyone else have these?

I hope you understand me; English is not my native tongue. :)

I had multiple warts appear in January 2025. Repeated rounds of cryotherapy and the warts were so persistent, they kept coming back in the same spots, and new would pop up. Shining a light down there I could see not only the large obvious ones I was fighting with cryo, but also many other small discolored warts at a lot of hair follicles.

Long story short… after battling it over a year with cryotherapy, and many other remedies from Reddit… what worked for me was HIGH doses of zinc.

I used zinc gluconate from Walmart.
150 mg in the morning, 150 midday, and 150 before bed.
This is not recommended (definitely not long term), within 1 week I noticed the warts shrinking.. within 2.5 weeks they were all gone… not a glimpse of a wart even under light.
Just thought I’d share because I suffered with these warts mentally.
It also cleared warts I was dealing with on my knuckles as well.
I found an article that stated that people with persistent HPV infections that won’t seem to go away are typically deficient in zinc.

Hey, i'm 30 and i just started to document myself about HPV, i never had the vaccine, and didn't know it even existed

I kissed probably more than a hundred of girls between my 18-30 from clubbing, dates etc ... Reading that you can get some kind of cancer 20-30 years after an infection spiked my anxiety level by so much :D

I also had many & many sexual partners, but i rarely gave oral sex

Hi! I’m Kerstin, 23. I noticed today that I have a tiny cauliflower like skin tag on my private part, tiny white spot bump on my inner l*bia also (near my an*s) which I believe, it’s not there before. I’m planning to get checked this week, I’m really scared, I was sexually active 2-3 months. Is this HPV related? Is this considered as warts? I want answers based on your personal experiences. And also what are the treatment needed to get rid of it. Thank you!

I was diagnosed with a postive hpv aptima. My doctor didn't explain this in full detail I panicked and didnt know what to ask. Under my online report all it says is "This nucleic acid amplification test detects fourteen high-risk HPV types (16,18,31,33,35,39,45,51,52,56,58,59,66,68)" I know there's no scientific cure for hpv. All I know from researching alone is to have a good immune system. I was wondering if anyone who has been cleared after being positive from hpv has any tips they believe helped their body cure it. My doctor didn't suggest anything but I think I should be doing something to help my body cure this.

I was diagnosed on March 2026. I'm very freaked out because in theory my body should have cleared it out on it's own already. Since I know exactly when I was infected back in December 2024. So any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: I forgot to add so far I haven't had any symptoms like genital warts. I've been tested for other stds and so far they've come back negative.

Hi, I'm a research officer for the council and doing a project on HPV and peoples experiences and their awareness, could you potentially give me your experiences, you will remain anonymous so you don't have to worry and the more feedback I get the better! ☺️

Are we sure I can’t infect family members by touching our door handle after a shower ?

Can GW stay there forever?

How do I cope with a lady that now solely associates my existence to this infection ? How do you deal with the shame ?

Does Aldara even work for men… ?

Will burning my warts cause permanent scars ?

How can I forgive the person that gave me this? it was my first time having sex, and she only told me about her warts situation after we spent a period together which makes me hate her because she didn’t let me make my own decision. I had noticed stuff on her but never understood they were small warts lol I wasn’t educated on the topic. I mean I kinda alr forgave her in my heart I don’t hold grudges but like why would u do that?

I noticed my warts 2 years after seing this person.
I had sex with another woman ( once ) and realized I had small clusters of baby warts on my shaft 2 weeks after seing the second girl ( after I shaved ). So I was ashamed and immediately told her. And she made me feel like shit. But I didn’t kno I had it so… I told her to see a doctor and everything she did the vaccin and now she’s just watching out for any symptoms.
Sucks bcz I rlly loved the bitch she made me feel light and I had butterflies in my dick whenever I was around her. But now I can feel it, she’s disgusted by me. And she regrets fucking me which makes me feel awful.

I went in for routine paps last year 2025 was told I tested positive for high risk hpv. I was so scared and stressed out. Exactly one year later May 2026 tested negative thank God. For all the ladies in their late 40’s it is possible to clear it I’m 48 so stay positive.

Does anyone know of a test you can take as a female to determine if you have low risk HPV - Genital Warts? - I have a boyfriend with HPV, he had it before he met me he was nice enough to disclose it to me. We have not been intimate. I was thinking if I already had it somehow it would no longer be an issue. I took the HPV vaccine guardasil 9 at 36. Does anyone know the effectiveness of the vaccine taken at this age?

Long story short, I didn’t disclose to my partner of a year that I previously had genital warts 5 years ago. We used condoms majority of the time (thinking this protected her).

I told her recently and it did not go well. She felt very betrayed.

I spoke with my dermatologist and she said if I haven’t seen anything in so long then I don’t have to disclose — she even said you just have to assume everyone’s got HPV.

She eventually got a Pap smear and it came back positive for high risk HPV, and that the doctor wants her to come back in 2 years. She’s 23. Her last Pap smear was negative before me. No, she did not cheat or have other partners between then. I didn’t even know I had high risk….

We broke up, she felt too betrayed.

I feel so guilty and like I really messed this up. I feel so incredibly horrible about giving her a virus, let alone anything that harms her. I love that girl so much, even after being dumped. I want her to be safe.

Hace un par de meses me diagnosticaron VPH cepa 33 de alto riesgo, con una LSIL, la noticia me devastó, ahora me van a hacer una colposcopia y posiblemente una biopsia, sin embargo el medico me dijo que me pondría anestesia local, lo que me preocupa es que duela el pinchazo y no haga efecto, tengo bastante miedo a la biopsia, como fueron sus experiencias en biopsias?

I have my first colposcopy coming this week and I have been absolutely terrified, crying about it almost every day. I’ve read terrible things online. On top of it already being a difficult procedure, I have very bad sexual trauma and almost always have a panic attack when I get a Pap smear. I tend to have them if something becomes painful during sex, and feeling pain down there is just a huge trigger. I’m scared of the pain but also further trauma. I really want to know everyone’s experience. Some have said it’s worse than childbirth and I just know it will be worse if I’m so anxious. Has anyone been numbed before? Do they offer that? I’m also just terrified to found out terrible news. I can’t imagine being told I’m infertile or something, it’s my biggest fear.

Had my Leep yesterday. The build up to the appointment was much worse than the actual procedure. I felt nothing. I had one 10 years ago that was traumatic so this was a breeze compared! Ask me anything.

I always read posts about clearing hpv and i never knew if that was gonna happen to me. I had my first positive pap for hpv in july 2024. I was devastated and cried for months, after a colposcopy, biopsies (some cin 1 and some unstaged, that really scared me) and a leep procedure (i was in tears the whole procedure). My first pap after this at approx 8 months was still positive but no abnormal cells and has a colposcopy which was normal (thank god) and my next pap that was done on April came back negative 😭 i could not believe it!

I have to say that my last 2 years have been very stressful trying to settle with a job and with this diagnosis.

Things i did tro try and heal my body:

1. I had put a lot of weight on, around 20kg in 2023, for which i started to eat more veggies ans healthier, without restricting myself.

2. I got the hpv vaccine. All the booster I needed

3. The leep procedure. It was necessary medically and I was 31 YO and I was not going to leave unstaged cin without knowing that they really were.

4. Vitamins: vit C, Vit A, zinc, EGCg, probiotics, vit D, hialuronic acid in tablets. Not all at the same time and not for very very long. I also had iron tablets as I was deficient.

5. I started running. Have actually enjoyed it and helped me with my mental health.

6. Therapy. Never touched the hpv topic but helped me with other aspects.

My life was a mess and my now husband (was my boyfriend at the time i got the diagnosis) even ended up proposing to me after all of this. I even thought he was going to break up with me.

Please do what's best for you and above everything, follow medical advise and seek 2nd opinion if you are not sure.

I am really grateful this has happened to me and I wish this happens to all the women put there suffering with this at the moment.

Hey, everyone! I 24F am assuming I contracted HPV because I have one wart on my palm. I’ve had this for three weeks already and I have health anxiety, so researching about this feels insufficient and I need to ask actual people about this - thus my question might sound a little stupid 🙏🏽

I have no idea where I got this but I assume it’s some form of direct or indirect skin to skin contact. I haven’t had sex for almost 6 months too. Apart from this, I also have no history of HPV and previous warts. So my questions are:

1. If I had raw penetrative sex, would I be able to transmit the HPV to my partner? (I already looked this up and accordingly genital warts and warts on the hands are different, but I still need confirmation)

2. Since sex includes skin to skin contact either way, what would be the chances that I would transmit it to my partner? What should I do to prevent it? (Do I cover the wart? etc)

This is frustrating me since I’ll be seeing my long distance partner soon and the last thing I want is give him a virus.

Thanks everyone 💗 hoping for kindness and gentleness in the reply

Should I get the HPV wax even though I am 30+ and am sexually active since over 10 years?

33f I have tested positive for HPV for probably about 7 or 8 years. I’ve had two colposcopy/biopsies done within that time frame. Once in the beginning, and then again two years ago.

Every time my pap would come back positive for HPV but negative for lesions or cell changes, they’d say it’s okay we’ll see you in one year.
I had LSIL two years ago- colposcopy/biopsy, and then ASCUS last year.
I would have to take anxiety meds just for my Pap smear each year. Everyone who would say things like, “it’ll be fine, don’t worry so much” obviously hasn’t had persistent HPV and know the fear it instills within you. It’s traumatizing. Colposcopies aren’t comfortable. LEEP procedures are scary. The word ‘cancer’ would live rent free in my head. I’m young. I want kids. HPV is not talked about enough. We are not educated enough as patients and I think that’s where the fear sets in.

In the last year or two, I stopped taking the birth control I was on for 13 years, started using a menstrual disc instead of tampons, have been taking my vitamins religiously, and lost about 45lbs. I don’t know if any of that has any relation whatsoever, but I felt it was worth noting.

Well I had my annual pap last week, and I broke down a little bit to my doctor. I said I was worried and I’ve had HPV for so long, doesn’t that mean I’m at a higher risk for cervical cancer? He genuinely calmed my nerves and told me that since I come in every year and stay on top of it, if anything were to change it would be caught and I would be okay. He thoroughly explained that the likeliness of it turning into cervical cancer is low and to keep coming in for my routine exams.

I just got my results and I am HPV FREE!! I started crying at work. Every year I’d pray and hope it would be gone, and this time it is! I’m posting this for those that feel like they’ll never get a negative result, for those that wonder “why can’t I just be normal” because that was me. It took me 7/8 years and a lot of tears, I thought I was doomed forever. I do know I could test positive again in the future. But the fact that I did pass it this time gives me so much hope.
Today is a good day. I pray anyone struggling with a situation similar to mine can find peace in knowing it IS possible. It may just take some time.

Hi guys I got my first pap in 2019 and I was HPV positive - other , with cell changes . Every year I get the same result . Intermittent risk of significant abnormality and every 2 years I have a colposcopy done with a biopsy. I have never had any treatment and I always feel sick During an after sex I have had several pelvic scans done over the years due to the constant pain an they never find anything.

This year will be 6 years now I held off my biopsy last year due to pregnancy an this year I went back in Feb and got negative HPV but recommended to specialist

I just seen the specialist on the first of May and got colposcopy and biopsy I can see my results online but my appointment isn't untill next month

It says I have cin 1 & 2 with nuclear changes seen and p16 block staining with integrated high risk HPV

The fact that the Feb one was negative after all these years an 3 months later saying high risk it makes me scared that I have bad changes that have just been getting missed all these years and it's going to be too late.

Does anyone have any advice or been through similar ?

I feel like I am never heard I changed drs after 3 years because of this an it feels like I am starting over again I keep having to remind them it's not the first year I have had it for .

I made a post before my follow up appointment here https://www.reddit.com/r/HPV/s/aYBN6aIXAE

I wanted to give the good news to the community that my LSIL went back to normal despite having HPV 16. Some context and what happened/ what I did (because I know people find that useful)

- Aged 34f, non smoker, a routine pap smear Feb 2024, normal cells, high risk HPV +. All previous routine paps had been normal and HPV -

- March 2025 follow up pap shows pap 3a2 (definitely abnormal, likely HSIL CIN 2/3, no cancer detected)

- March 2025 colposcopy impression HSIL. Two biopsy samples taken, one no dysplasia, one mild dysplasia. Conclusion in April 2025: CIN 1, LSIL. Advice - follow up pap in 3 months

- Summer 2025, mental health took nosedive, couldn't face going back to gynaecologist.

- April 2026 (aged 36) finally scheduled follow up pap. May 2026 results: Pap 1, normal, no dysplasia. HPV + HPV 16 and other non-named strains identified (no 18). Conclusion- follow up pap in 12 months + Gardasil 9 vaccine.

What I did:

Not much. I have a sedentary and stressful job, I don't smoke, I eat quite healthy (lots of fibre, fruit, veg, and protein), I didn't change my drinking habits (weekends, social occasions, get drunk maybe once every 6 - 12 months at a party with friends), rarely drink Monday-Thursday unless on holiday. Swimming regularly in summer, dance class weekly, since February circuit training 1-2x per week.

Anemia detected last summer and take iron supplements.

No other supplements at all.

How I felt:

Very very stressed around the time of the appointments. Confused, not supported by medical staff.

What I did- made a list of questions/ concerns, follow up appointment much better.

Thanks to the comments in my previous thread which reassured me. This Reddit community has been very supportive and I've tried to give back with supportive comments and my experience/ research. Now I'm going to stop interacting with the HPV community for a while to get a breather from all of this and tap out for the sake of my mental health, but thanks all and look after yourselves!