Might seem an odd question but would this mean if positive diagnosis that a previous partner would have passed this on either knowingly or not?
I'm obviously overthinking but having gone through 2 rounds of ivf & my partner having clear smear tests would that not show up at some point?
We are both well into life so would have been partnered with separate relationships on the way, we met in our late 30's as far as i know we are both clear of anything especialy getting tested during ivf
Odd question i know, do people track back to previous partners to ask or inform or is that not how the hpv works
ta
Yes. HPV oropharyngeal cancer is an STI but it can have a very long latent period sometimes in excess of 30 years so tracing the source is impossible and not necessary. Most of us catch it but most throw off the virus and even those who don't, don't always develop cancer.
It's also possible to pass the virus to and fro within the same partnership until finally one of you fails to reject it and it hides in your cells.
Hope that puts your mind at rest.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
I have an hpv driven cancer (cervical) so just to add to Dani’s reply in terms of having a clear smear test. In a smear test, only the cervical cells are tested, and those cells are specific to the cervix-they don’t travel round the body. Either partner could have picked up hpv at any time from previous relationships, or the current one, but it’s impossible to identify where it came from. Plus, there is no blood test which will show hpv and no test for men.
Hpv can come and go so you can have a clear smear test if the test is done when the virus is inactive/dormant. It could show up on a future test if the test is done when it’s active. Many people carry the virus with no issues, but some of us go on to develop different cancers, like head and neck, cervical, anal, etc. You’ll never be able to confirm who it came from, and because most people who’ve ever been sexually active will have come in contact with the virus at some point, there’s really no point in trying to track through all previous partners because that won’t give you an answer.
Sarah xx
those cells are specific to the cervix-they don’t travel round the body.
But they provide a source of HPV in oral sex.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Absolutely correct- they do with oral sex.
Sarah xx
