Stephanie Dow is a 26 year old single mother living in Covington, WA 98042. Between her toddler princess, her full time job at a payroll company, and an on again off again boyfriend, she is doesn’t have time to allow her HPV to hold her back.Â
 Stephanie is not a doctor, and does not claim to be one . All facts and figures on this site have been gathered using only trusted sources for accurate information. Stephanie is just another girl living with HPVÂ

Mention the words sexually transmitted disease during a group conversation and don’t be surprised if no one raises their hand saying “me me me, I have a STD”. In our society, admitting to having a sexually transmitted disease is socially unheard of. Perhaps this is the reason that even though the majority of the population has HPV, no one seems to know much about it. We don’t talk about it. STD’s are something that so and so has, but not us.
 What is important to remember is that whenever we are talking about something new, we create awareness. How many things can you think of that not long ago were unheard of… Then word got out and now everyone knows. It doesn’t matter if the facts have been proven, if not everyone knows the facts. Example: the Earth is round, the icecaps are melting, Milli Vanilli didn’t sing their own songs.
This should be the same with the Human Papillomavirus. Telling others about HPV and spreading the word is the most effective way to not only create awareness but also to inform and educate. The more we know about something, the more questions we may come up with, the more questions we ask. If each of us talk with our friends and family about HPV, and just one person out of those we talk to goes to their doctor to get a pap smear and ask more questions, this would be a success.
Cervical Cancer is a preventable disease. We just need to know ahead of time to take steps to remove the problem causing cellular changes on our cervix before they become cancer. If in 10 years you had a friend living with cervical cancer, and you had the ability to go back in time to today and help stop the cancer before it even starts… Would you?? Don’t wait till its too late, do it now!
Talk to your friends and family. Discuss with those you care about how a pap smear is the best start to prevention of cervical cancer. Thousands of women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. Thousands of women diagnosed with a cancer that could have been prevented. Talk about HPV, prevent cancer.
Single and infected with HPV? Considering joining a dating website meant for other people with a sexually transmitted disease? Why?
When I first decided I wanted to start dating again I thought a lot about being rejected based on my HPV virus. I considered using a website meant for others infected with STD’s. After doing research and becoming more informed I realized that it was not necessary and that I would try my luck trying to date others using dating sites meant for everyone. In fact I had the best luck with www.craigslist.org
If you have HPV and think that you should use a STD positive dating site consider the following. Dating using STD positive dating sites are not realistic for women infected only with HPV because the majority of men with HPV, have no idea they have it. Men are not tested for HPV and unless they have visible genital warts, they have no way to know if they have the disease. This means that the male members of these sites will either only know they have genital warts, or will have a different STD such as herpes.Â
There is no logical reason to date someone with a STD such as Herpes just because you have HPV. By making this statement I am not saying that you should not date someone with Herpes, in fact the right person for you may have this STD. The point I am trying to make is that you should not feel it necessary to subject yourself to a different STD just because you have HPV. You can try and date whomever you want.
Keep in mind that even though the majority of the population is infected with at least one sexually transmitted strain of the Human Papillomavirus, most people with HPV never know it. No signs, No symptoms, No indication that they have a STD at all. These people aren’t using a STD positive dating site. You are considering it only because you have been diagnosed with HPV. Either you have genital warts, or you have a moderate or high risk strain that can cause cervical cancer. There are going to be plenty of men available on other dating sites that will be open to the idea of dating someone with HPV once they get to know the person and are educated on the facts about HPV.
If you want to get into online dating, you best chances of finding the right person are going to come from using one of the most popular dating sites. You do not have to put in the title of your personal “HPV infected”. Sharing with your potential partners should be done on your time. Either after the first date, the second, weeks later, whenever it is best for you. I do recommend you always tell someone before you become intimate. Promote yourself and attract others with little pieces of information about who you are, not what diseases your carry.
Choose To Know is a campaign put on by the Digene Corporation (creators of the HPV test) to encourage women to ask that a HPV test be done with the pap smear and to “Choose To Know” if they are at risk of having a high risk strain of the HPV virus. Many doctors are still not ordering a HPV test with the pap smear unless the results come back abnormal. Did you know that you can request that this test be done anyways even without a abnormal result?
  If your pap comes back with inconclusive or borderline results, according to www.thehpvtest.com website, nearly insurance companies will cover the HPV test. If you are over 30, the risk of cervical cancer is high, because of this many insurance companies will cover the HPV test just by asking for it to be done with your pap smear.
 You can learn more about the HPV test and sign up to receive you free Choose To Know Bracelet at www.thehpvtest.com
To see if your insurance company will cover the costs of the HPV test call 1-866-895-1HPV
I was single when I found out that I am infected with the sexually transmitted disease, HPV. I was also a new mother and the prospect of dating let alone dating with HPV wasn’t even on my radar. One and half years later I was ready to join the dating scene again and start meeting new people. Starting dating after being single for so long is a challenge in itself. Dating with HPV just added to the challenge. How do you begin dating with HPV? When do you tell someone you have HPV? Will anyone be interested in me after knowing I have HPV?
I made the choice when I started dating with HPV that I would only tell someone I have the STD if there was a chance that I would become intimate with them. I did not feel it was fair to sleep with someone before telling them I have the Human Papillomavirus that can cause cervical cancer even though chances are my partner would already have at least one strain of the the virus. According to the cdc.gov website, “Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.”
 I placed a personal ad on a website and as a result, went on quite a few dates. My personal ad was a positive reflection of me, But because STD’s have such a negative vibe in our society, I left this part out. I would tell someone when I was ready. I told just 3 of the guys I had dated that I was living with HPV.
  One of the guys was OK with it, but we didn’t work out for other reasons. I met another great guy, he and I had a great time together, but he was not comfortable with the idea that I was infected with HPV. This was my first rejection based not on who I was, but because I was infected with a virus. I understood his apprehension and we parted ways.
 One guy in particular was OK that I was living with HPV. He understood the facts I told him about, and felt that my HPV infection was a part of me, but it was not what defined me. We started dating in April of 07 and he is still a part of my life. There is enough stress already that goes along with getting to know a new person. Dating with HPV presents a whole new set of problems. Do you tell someone right away before feelings for one another are developed? Do you get to know them and let them get to know you before you share that you are infected with HPV? This is a very personal choice and truly, you do not have to decide right away.
 Let the decision of when to tell your partner you are infected with the HPV virus be dependant on the dynamic of your progressing relationship with them. I do believe it is only fair to tell them before your relationship becomes sexual. Not telling someone that you are infected with the HPV sexually transmitted disease is not only unfair to them, but it could cause resentment for the lack of honesty when they do find out.Â
How do you tell someone you are infected with HPV? I felt when I was dating with HPV that my best approach to the imminent conversation was with the facts. I visited the CDC.gov website and learned everything I could. When I felt ready to share that I was infected with HPV, I asked the guy to listen closely because I was scared to tell him for fear of rejection, but that I felt it very important that they know. I was honest with my findings and told my possible partners that a condom could help lower the chances of them becoming infected with HPV, but that it did not eliminated them. I told them the percentages on how many women and men have HPV. I shared my own experience with the HPV disease. Not one man was disgusted with me, or scooted away from me. The 3 men I told were appreciative of my honesty.
 They listened carefully and asked questions. I truly don’t think that before me, any women had ever openly admitted to being infected with a STD, let alone in the manner that I did. I suggested to each guy that before we got to know each other further, that they research the HPV disease and learn as much as they could. Then they could come to me later and ask any more questions they may have.
However you approach this conversation is up to you. I recommended a quiet setting without distractions. Be honest and open and let them ask questions. If they are not at ease with the fact that you are infected with HPV it is OK. Possibly they will still want to date and with time become more comfortable, or possibly they just will not and parting ways will be the only option. Realizing to yourself that you will indeed find a man that will see past your HPV infection is important. Not everyone will be, but someone is out waiting for you, and they will accept you the way you are.
You are more then welcome to borrow my ”lines” for telling a guy I have HPV.
 ”Have your seen those ads about a virus that can cause cancer? I actually have that disease. It is a STD that most of the population has, unlucky me I ended up getting a strain that caused problems on my cervix It’s very possible you already have HPV, and because your a guy, unless you have visible warts, there is no way to know. Also, condoms may prevent the spread, but because we get it from skin to skin contact, condoms do not offer full protection.
let him talk here. If he seems uncomfortable…
It’s OK if your not comfortable with it. I won’t be upset and will apprieciate your honesty. I just felt it was important that I tell you before we go any further. Do you have any questions? I don’t know all the facts, but I’ve read up on quite a bit.
If he seems OK with your HPV
“Do you want to go online and learn more together about? We could also discuss this later if you want to research it on your own.”
 The Human Papillomavirus, or HPV is transmitted from one person to another by genital skin to skin contact. You will not get it from a toliet seat, or from sharing a towel with someone who may be infected. Because HPV is transmitted by skin to skin genital contact, condoms are not a fail safe way to prevent acquiring the HPV virus. Many parts of the areas are still exposed even when a condom is worn. The majority of people already have HPV and do not know it. It is possible to acquire the HPV infection from your very first sexual partner. The controversial HPV vaccine, Gaurdisil is possibly the best method of protection from the virus at this time.
If you are in a monogamous relationship and just recently found out that you are infected with HPV this does not mean that you current partner is cheating, or that it even came from them. The HPV virus can hide in your body for years before showing any symptoms or signs of infection. The majority of the population does not even know they have the HPV virus and may never show any symptoms.
Obviously the math will tell you that if you have had more sexual partners, thus more possible exposure, your risk of having HPVÂ is higher. Having a small amount of sexual partners does not get you in the clear. At the University of Washington, Nancy Kiviat, MD conducted a study on HPV. She concluded that about 80% of women with 4 sexual partners or fewer, have been infected with HPV.
 It is possible, but rare that a mother could give her child the HPV virus during child birth. Only two strains of the HPV virus have been associated with this. The HPV infection in the child, could cause lesions on the vocal cords. There is a less likely chance that the child would become infected with the HPV virus if delivered by C-section, but no gaurentee. Keep in mind there is only a small chance that a child could become infected with HPV in this way, and a smaller chance that the Infection persist enough to cause the vocal cord trouble.
 If you are infected with HPV and pregnant, it is up to you to decide if you want to modify birth plans with this in consideration. Â
Human papillomavirus is a group of viruses that can cause warts or other cell growths. There are more then 100 different strains of the HPV virus. The foot and hand warts for example are caused by a strain of the HPV virus.
More than 30 of these HPV strains are sexually transmitted and affect the genital areas. Sexually transmitted HPV is a wide spread very common virus and most people infected with the HPV virus never even know it. Some of these HPV strains can cause genital warts, while others may cause cell changes in a woman’s cervix. HPV is transmitted by genital contact.
There are 3 classifications to risk of the HPV strains. Low, Moderate, and High Risk. Low risk strains of the HPV virus can result in genital warts. Genital warts are visible growths on the on the genitals and can sometimes have a cauliflower look to them or appear as small skin tags around the genital areas and anus.
 Moderate or high risk HPV strains are much more serious for the person infected with the HPV virus. Moderate or high Risk HPV can lead to cervical cancer if the infection persists and is left alone untreated. Occasionally the infection can clear on its own. If abnormal cell growth caused by the HPV infection is apparent your doctor can remove this and monitor it with repeat visits.
HPV is commonly known as a women’s disease because of the risks of cervical cancer. There is no test for men to determine if they have the HPV infection. The only sign or symptom a man may have the HPV virus is if there are warts or lesions in his genital area.
There is no cure for HPV but it can be prevented with a vacination if done early. The controversial Gaurdisil vacination is available for girls and women 9 to 26. The vaccine can prevent some of the strains that cause genital warts and cervical cancer. Gaurdisil vacination will not treat the virus if already in the body, but it can protect against other strains you may not have.
Such a stigma put on others living with STD’s. Why is this so? Admitting to another that you are living with a STD is not socially acceptable. People tend to look at others with STD’s and see the person in a negative light. This is not right. We should not feel ashamed that we have a sexually transmitted disease.
My name is Stephanie Dow. I am 26 and I live in Washington State. I have a young daughter whom I cherish and a love hate relationship with my full-time job. Did I mention that I have the Human Papillomavirus? I have HPV.Â
I found out I was infected with HPV shortly after my daughter was born. At my 6 week post-partum appointment in December 2004 my OB/GYN told me that my pap smear had abnormal results. She ordered more tests which came back with results I did not want to hear. Not only did I have the HPV virus but that it was a moderate risk strain. A colposcopy and a cervical biopsy were performed and it detected that the HPV virus was causing abnormal cell growth on my cervix. Colposcopy and cervical biopsy are done at the same appointment. I would compare the pain to my worst menstrual cramps.
My abnormal cervical cell growth, or cervical dysplasia, was classified as moderate and removal was the best option. Left alone without treatment, there was a good chance that my cervical dysplasia would eventually become cervical cancer. This is a scary concept for anyone who hears the “Cancer” word. Not knowing what is going on with your body, but knowing that something isn’t right and could possibly be this serious is not a enjoyable experience.
To remove the cervical dysplasia on my cervix the HPV had caused, Cryosurgery was the choice of action. I had the Cryosurgery done in February of 2005. Cryosurgery is sort of like having a wart frozen off of your foot, or your knee, or your hand. The only difference, it’s being done on your cervix. Let me tell you, it is not the most pleasant experience. I have felt far worse pains but this one will definitely stay in memory for quite some time. I would compare the uncomfortableness of this very short 25 or so minute procedure to the 14 hours of labor induction I endured just months before.
Following the removal of the abnormal cell growth caused by HPV, I returned back to my doctor for routine visits. A colposcopy and a cervical biopsy were preformed again, first at 3 months post cryosurgery, then every 6 months for the next 2 years. After the 2 year period showing no signs of abnormal cell growth returning, I was given the all clear.  told that I must go just once a year for a pap smear, and that so long as my results continue to come back normal, I no longer need to have colposcopy and cervical biopsy done at my visits. This was music to my ears. Truly leaving work a few hours early is kind of nice, leaving work to have the doctor scraping and taking pictures of my cervix, not so nice.
It has been 3 years since I first found out that IÂ was infected HPV. Until the creation of this website IÂ did not broadcast to the word that I have HPV, but IÂ did not kept it a secret from family and friends. I have a sexually transmitted virus, I have HPV, which caused my cervical dysplasia. I’m still the same me I was before I found out I was living with HPV. Â