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HPV and Breastfeeding (TMI)
Ok, I decided that I'm too embarrassed with the fact that I have HPV so that's why this is my 1st post.
I know that you can't transfer hpv by breastfeeding. However, DH and I were doing the deed and had oral and he licked my nipple. Well, I forgot to clean my boob off and a few hours later breastfed my DS. Now I'm freaking out thinking he's going to get HPV and I'll have to explain to him why he has it when he's older or worse he'll get throat cancer (I'm being a worry wart. hah, that's ironic). I was told HPV can't survive on toilet seats by the CDC but they couldn't answer my question 100%.
What I'm trying to ask is if it is possible that he could get it from me being irresponsible?
Sorry for posting this here, I didn't know where else to post a topic like this
Re: HPV and Breastfeeding (TMI)
#1. it sounds very far fetched.
#2. it was explained to me that HPV doesn't really impact men, despite them being carriers.
#3. HPV tends to clear up on its own after a certain period of time. how many normal pap's have you had since being DX'd?
Ok, there are several factors at play here. First, breathe and calm down. It is extremely rare for an infant to contract the HPV virus indirectly through mom's nipples.
When was your abnormal pap smear? Did you have a colposcopy (an outpatient procedure to test/remove abnormal cells)? Have you had normal paps since your abnormal HPV positive one? If so, this may be a moot point.
First of all, please don't be embarrassed that you have had an HPV positive pap smear. It is estimated that 80% of women will have HPV in their lifetime and a lot of the time it will actually go away on it's own and a woman may never know that she even had it at one time! I see A LOT of abnormal, HPV positive paps at work and really, it is an STD, so I think that is why people freak out about it, but it's really less of a concern than you think (unless you have a high risk type that can lead to cervical cancer, then this should be taken care of!).
HPV specifically are abnormal cells that grow on your cervix. There probably is a chance that some of these cells can slough off into your cervical fluid and that your spouse can ingest these but I am not sure how much of these abnormal cells would actually transfer from his mouth to your nipple to your infant's mouth. Think about how many women have had HPV at some point, didn't know it, and their significant other gave them oral sex and never developed an oral lesion- and that is from direct contact! There is a lot of good bacteria in our mouths that fight off the bad stuff!
FYI for those that didn't know, HPV affects men who contract it as genital warts.
It is great that you are concerned about your baby, but I think that the chance that he contracted HPV is extremely low from this incident. To be safe, just watch for any "cauliflower type" lesions to grow on his tongue or gums, and if found, call the doc.
Hope this helps- GL!
Thank you, to both of you! This made me feel a lot better.I think I'm just embarrassed because I've had family members and an ex (before I met DH) treat me like it was the plague
I've had maybe 2 pap smears since and I did have the colposcopy (that's where they do the biopsy and freeze your cervix, right?) because I had a pap smear come back abnormal then the next one it cleared up. I can't remember what the one said before I got pregnant with DS but the doctor didn't say anything to me about it so I'm guessing it was fine. I was very lucky and didn't contract the strains that can cause cervical cancer, I just had the genital warts.
I was told HPV does clear up on its own after time but I wasn't sure if it could clear up in married/dating because you're continuously moving it back and forth between partners. Luckily, I haven't had warts since 2006 so I'm praying that everything is alright, definitely going to be safe from now on. Again, I really appreciate your advice
no, you can't pass it back and forth with the same partner. i was concerned about the same when i was DX'd and inquired about it. i was told that my partner would build an immunity to it.
fwiw-i never had warts. nor did the partner that passed it to me.
and it's something different where they freeze your cervix. i forget what they call that. i had some friends that had to have colpo's but then had to go on to have their cervix frozen because they weren't clearing up.
you should be having pap smears every 3-6 months to check the progress. once you get 3 normal pap's the HPV has cleared itself up. if you haven't had them that frequently then it's time to call your doctor and get those started.
HPV is skin to skin contact. However, if you have the HPV that gave you an abnormal pap smear, you are probably fine unless your infected hubby rubbed his penis all over your nipple. And even then it's a long shot. You DON'T have HPV forever.... normal healthy people get rid of it in 12-18 months. A little longer for immuno compromised.
It is NOT spread by body fluid. HPV won't give him throat cancer. There are only a couple strains that CAN cause cervical cancer.
Calm down.
PS: Also, a colposcopy is when they look at your cervix with a high powered microscope. They usually do a biopsy during that. Freezing the cervix is Cryotherapy.
There is also the Leep or LEETZ procedure when they use an electric wire to graft out a piece of your cervix. Either a flat piece or a cone shaped piece.
Oh...and there are over 100 types of the HPV virus. Some do nothing. Some cause warts on your hands. Some cause warts on your genitals. some cause abnormal pap smears. A couple can cause cervical cancer.
Most people get some form of it by adulthood. The kid on the playground who used to chase you with the wart on his finger because he "touched a frog?"...that's a form of HPV
I agree with everyone that using a s/n was a dumb idea, I was just embarrassed about it but I shouldn't be. Anyway, I totally lol'ed at your comment about my hubby rubbing his penis on my nipple. I know they did bot the colposcopy and cryotherapy, and the pap came back un-alarming after that. I had a few pap smears after this was done and a week or so after my last one I got pregnant. So! My next one is this April so we'll see how that one goes. I feel better knowing that I'm not going to harm my child, that's the last thing I want.
Hey I was dianosed with HPV (abnormal cell changes) when I got pregnant with my first son back in 2004. I had him as vaginal delivery and he is perfectly healthy I have a second son in which I breast fed. Doctors told me It was fine. Both are perfectly healthy. I actually did research on HPV for a college project. One thing you must know is I am sure you are ok. There are over 100 "different" strains of HPV. Some cause abnormal cell changes/cervical cancer and others cause warts. HPV is something everyone is still learning about but has come a long ways.