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HPV and Pregnancy - Help?

1331 Views 19 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  GoodNamesGone, 
GoodNamesGone
This whole thing is embarassing to me, and I might get wordy in an attempt to explain.

I'm a clean "good girl" and the fact that this happened to me depresses me. I know I'm over-reacting slightly, but I'm hormonal and I've been going through a lot lately. I feel like a big pathetic sissy, but it's just a lot to handle all at once while my emotions are out of control.

So, I have HPV. I had regular, ol' annoying warts as a kid. I have a lot of hang-ups about it still. I still refuse to wear shorts that show my knees (where I had them) even though the things are long-gone.

Now that I'm pregnant, I have vaginal ones. It's bad enough to have your vagina suddenly be so... ugly... or to have to deal with something you thought you had long since overcome, but now my doctor has me freaking out.

Here's how it went down- My general practitioner is the one that diagnosed me. She looked like she'd seen a ghost- she's only been in this profession for a year and a half and this was her first case. On top of that, she doesn't have many pregnant patiants.

We both agreed to see what my midwife had to say about persciptions and the baby in all this mess. She also said she would be calling the midwife for advice.

My midwife has been in the business 28 years. We are not chummy at all, but she does her job, and she agrees with my birth plan. I WISH we were chummy, but the only time she's friendly is in person. On the phone I feel like she's annoyed. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt that I'm just being hormonal.

She scoffed at the situation, said to get the cream that the Gen. Dr. was going to perscribe, and not to worry. She looked at my "situation" but didn't do a pelvic. She said I have nothing to worry about, she's seen this before.

2 days pass, the Gen. Dr. calls me- her and the midwife haven't talked. She asks what Midwife had to say. I told her, she seems uneasy, but says she'll call in the scrip. This is a little odd that she hadn't talked to my Midwife- this Dr. is on top of things. It's a big reason I go to her despite her inexperiance.

She calls me a few hours later and says she's worried about laibility, and the baby, and has talked to a friend who is an OB/GYN and they both think I should see her. Also, the OB is willing to take me on as a patiant.

I haven't seen the OB/GYN yet, but I have her number and said I'd make the appointment. I figure I'll see what she has to say.

In the meantime I'm freaking out! Medical websites are full of bug-a-boo about bleeding and babies with warts on their eyes, genitals, and even throats. The word C-Section is being tossed around by my Gen. doctor.

I don't know how to feel- I don't want to do something stupid in regards to the baby, but I want to do a natural child birth. My Mother had 2 C-sections and doesn't understand why I'm so freaked. And EVERYBODY keeps telling me to do what is best for my baby as if I would actually subject her (its a girl) to such a thing! If I knew c-section was the only option, then I'd deal... but I don't.

Ok... I'm sorry this is SOOOO long. I just feel REALLY alone right now. For all his support, my DH doesn't get it, my mother doesn't get it...

All I want to know is- is this as scary as the Gen. Dr. is making it out to be? Should I trust the OB/GYN not to try and bully me into a C-section?

Help...
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Spiralshell
Oh my -- hugs to you, this sounds like a really hard situation.
I don't have any specific advice for you about how to proceed, but I will say that I have HPV and had warts a few years ago. Thankfully after treatment with Aldara they went away. I've also had funny paps, but thankfully nothing bad in a few years. Finding out about all of that was really awful, so I know some of how you are feeling. Thankfully, my body seems to have healed itself because I haven't had any recurrence in 5 years.
Hang in there, get advice from a qualified doctor or midwife who cares about putting your mind at ease, and take care of yourself. From everything I know and have experienced, stress makes this worse. So rest, deep breaths, good food, and be gentle with yourself -- this is not your fault.
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S
Ok, first relax.

second, it is not a big deal. Tons of women have HPV (in fact most women encounter it at some point) and it is not a problem for the vast majrity of women. The only issue for the pregnancy would be if you have warts during the birth and even then the risk of passing it to the baby is low.

Normally, the warts you had as a child are not related to those you have now. The HPV virus can hang around your body for 1 or 2 years. After the ones you have now are gone, they most likely will not reoccur. There are many strains of HPV hence the possibility of having reoccuring cases if a new infection with a new strain occurs

The next step for your own health would be to get a colposcopy done to make sure there is nothing worrisome on your cervix.

Keep in mind that most people who have HPV do not have symptoms and are not tested during pregnancy. Plenty of women give birth while having a strain of HPV in their body and the reason they are not tested for it unless they have an abnormal pap smear is beacause it is irrelevent to the health of the baby.

So, in short, get you warts treated, get a colposcopy (or wait after the birth for that since they won't treat anything on your cervix during pregnancy) and tell your GP to educate herself a little bit before freaking everybody out for nothing.

Also, being a "good girl" is not protection for STDs and especially not HPV, which occurs in tons of monogamous couples.
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M
Welcome to MCD.

I'm a bit sad about HPV too. I thought I had put it all behind me but that conization of the cervix 15 years ago means I need some extra look-sees while pregnant.

Best of luck.
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K
I don't have any warts, but I was diagnosed with HPV and had an abnormal PAP about five years ago, and my doctor also really freaked me out. I am in a monogamous relationship (which they did not believe) and they made me get testing for other STDs. I had a colposcopy and they did some procedure to remove suspicious cells. All my PAPs since then have been normal and nobody has ever mentioned HPV again.

I later found out that my mother also tested positive for HPV (also in a monogamous relationship) which completely crushed her - I guess HER doctor freaked her out too.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in either having HPV or being freaked out by the medical community about it. Frankly, I don't think they know very much about this virus. I think I received terrible advice about it, especially when I later found out that the type of abnormal cells they found often resolves itself and can be monitored through more frequent PAPs. I go to a major research university hospital for my care and the thought has crossed my mind that they were just looking to enroll me in a study (they paid me $80 to participate in whatever treatment I got). It makes me kind of mad to think about it.
I guess I was just young and stupid. I seriously question the benefit of this vaccine they are marketing for it.
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M
When are you due? If the cream isn't toxic to baby and will help the warts clear up or become non-contagious before your due date, I think I'd use it. Find out the name of the cream and do a bunch of research....then go see the OB armed with information so you know which questions to ask.

This isn't related to your juivenille warts. This is a new strain that you probably caught wthin the last year or so...and it IS a sexually transmitted disease. Unfortunately most men don't know that they are carriers because very few of them have symptoms. Very few women have symptoms either. I wonder if the pregnancy has made your immune system all wonky and contributed to this outbreak.
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V
3
I have HPV too (and had warts as a kid - how much did THAT suck???). When I was dx'd, I had the same embarassment - I had always been a "good kid," practiced extremely safe sex, never had any other diseases. Thankfully I had an AWESOME gyn then. I asked her if I was going to have to tell every guy I ever slept with how dirty I was. Her response? "80% of people in your generation have HPV. There's a pretty good chance the person you sleep with will have it anyway. You don't have to tell if you don't want to." Questionable advice for sure (I still tell new partners, but I didn't go back and call people I had previously slept with), but made me feel so much better.


I'm sorry you're having an outbreak right now, and I'm sorry your medical professionals are scaring you so bad.
What I've heard about HPV and c/s is the same as the pp - if you have an active case of warts during labor/delivery, they may want to do a c/s to keep it from the baby. Chances are fairly good the wart(s) will clear up with the cream and you'll have no problems.

There are lots of different strains of HPV; some cause warts, and some cause cervical cancer (so be sure to be religious about paps from now on, and I would also recommend the colposcopy post partum). My awesome gyn also said this to me, upon discovery of my first wart: "This is actually a good thing - it means you probably have the wart-causing strain and NOT the cervical cancer-causing strain."
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GoodNamesGone
Thank you. I feel a little better now.

I recieved some home-remedy advice about Apple Cider Vinagar that I might try out. The pain involved with any treatment scares me, but I figure much like the pain I'll be experiancing with birth, I'll just deal.

How far along am I - 30 weeks if the new due date is correct. If it is not, then 32. They are also 99% sure it is a girl- which I am happy about, DH and I really wanted a daughter.

I -think- there's enough time to get rid of them. Like I said, my Midwife doesn't seem to think it's a problem at all. I just wish my relationship with her was better so this calmed me down more.

I'm going to see the OB to at the VERY least, be sure I don't have internal ones, also to get a second opinion on using a cream to treat the warts.

I've actually read that there is no proof that a c/s prevents the spreading of the warts to the baby. If this is true, how easily the idea of getting one is being tossed about scares me.

I'll be delivering in a hospitol (Midwife says better safe than sorry, and maybe the next one can be at home) and I picked one based off of low c/s numbers and non-involvment of the staff. They have a NICU, but it isn't even open unless a baby needs to be in there.

Now I have people who want me to consider a c/s who think it's perfectly fine and don't share my views- that I find scary and frustrating.

I'm the "crunchiest" person I know right now IRL and that's pathetic, I barely qualify. So nobody understands why I want a natural childbirth, or to co-sleep, or how crazy I am about the idea of breast-feeding. This is why I have come here.

You guys are helping me feel less alone. I really appriciate that.
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SunShineSally
I had HPV my Aunt did also my Sister has it 3 of my Friends have it and 2 of my cousins have/had it...... My OB said that there is no medical or scientific proof but he personally believes that women are born with it and some of them it comes out and some it does not basically it lays dormant in all women BUT there is no proof he says he doesn't believe that they should have said it is an STD because they do not do paps on women who are not sexually active! i agree with him and I have heard that other OBGYNs have said the same thing to their parients my aunts told her this. because she asked I have never slept with a man and we do not use those kinds of toys so how could I have gotten HPV?? She was told the same thing as me.
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S
3 of my girl friends have it its Really common so dont stress to much hun
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J
I too have HPV but the cancer strain. I had a coloposcopy and a leep because of severe dysplasia. Which made it extremely difficult to get pregnant this time. I too was in mono-relations but come to find out my mother and her mother both have it. I do not think there is much to be worried about. Take it in strides..it will all turnout perfectly in the end
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S
Your midwife changed your homebirth plans into a hospital birth because of HPV??? What extra "safety" can a hospital provide when it comes to HPV? Perhaps you should have a serious conversation with her and what evidence-based care means.

I work at a fertility clinic and make sure everyone's tests are in before they do IUIs or IVF. If a HPV test comes back positive, we have her do a colposcopy and whatever follow up for her own health, but after all that she still has HPV. The doctors do not recommend any other kind of precautions or follow up for it during pregnancy or birth.

It is interesting to note how suddenly HPV is this huge scary thing since they came up with the vaccine. It is the same thing that happens with every new vaccine.

Again, the vast majority of people have a strain of HPV at one point in their lives.
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SunShineSally
3
Quote:

Originally Posted by JLKMneely View Post
I too have HPV but the cancer strain. I had a coloposcopy and a leep because of severe dysplasia. Which made it extremely difficult to get pregnant this time. I too was in mono-relations but come to find out my mother and her mother both have it. I do not think there is much to be worried about. Take it in strides..it will all turnout perfectly in the end


I had the coloposcopy and cryosergary for the cancer strain my sister had the warts yet her DH has nothing she did not sleep around nor did he and it came out on her right aftrer my nephew was born I mean at her 6 week check up never a odd pap or anything he also had the cryo done too and nothing has come back


I am shocked that they changed your birth plan!!!!!
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L
2
Agreeing with the previous posters- why in the world would HPV make you not be a candidate for homebirth? HPV is not an emergency. I mean, yeah you want to get rid of the warts before delivery, but other than that, I'm just
over the change in plans.

Like others said too, please don't be embarrassed.
So many of us have had it. I got it 18 years ago or so! Mine were treated with podophyllin, which burned those suckers right off and hurt like HELL. I wasn't pregnant when they used that on me, so there's probably another drug of choice for you. But after two treatments, the warts were gone and I have never seen a recurrence through 3 pregnancies. Both of my kids were born at home, and I'm planning the same for #3.

I'm not sure if you feel this is an option, but it almost sounds like you need another midwife to me... You two are not communicating and her attitude toward all of this is odd to say the least. In your shoes, I'd see the OB, get checked out for internal warts, get treated, and find a new midwife to attend my homebirth.
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GoodNamesGone
Quote:

Originally Posted by soso-lynn View Post
Your midwife changed your homebirth plans into a hospital birth because of HPV??? What extra "safety" can a hospital provide when it comes to HPV?
Oh no, the midwife changed my birth plan from home to hospital because

1) My BMI was too high (though she debated that one a little)
2) My family has a history or large babies (I was 11 Lbs 4 oz, my brother was induced at 38/39 weeks and weighed over 10lbs)
3) My Husband was a large baby (12 lbs 6 oz)
4) This is my first baby
5) I have a history of P.C.O.S. and there is a general fear that I will develop gestational diabetes or hyper-tension.

Now, I have passed every blood test, the baby is healthy enough to be a poster-child for how a baby should develop, and my blood pressure is too low if it's too anything.

Soooo... she thinks the next birth can be at home so long as this one goes well.

Still a general concern about the size of the baby come go-time. My DH's 2 sons are no indication because they were induced, and C/S.

The General Practitioner wants to possibly turn that Natural Hospital Birth (current plan) into a C-Section because of the HPV. THAT is what had me in a tizzy. I already had to give up a home birth AND water birth because of the afore mentioned reasons, and my current location (water birth isn't done in hospitals here... wtf?)
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SunShineSally
I would flat out say no to a CS because of HPV my sister was not denied a vaginal birth because of HPV she did not want to "risk" (her words not mine) a VBAC so went for the CS. I would really ask for facts and proof of why it is needed. JM2C
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S
Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodNamesGone View Post
Oh no, the midwife changed my birth plan from home to hospital because

1) My BMI was too high (though she debated that one a little)
2) My family has a history or large babies (I was 11 Lbs 4 oz, my brother was induced at 38/39 weeks and weighed over 10lbs)
3) My Husband was a large baby (12 lbs 6 oz)
4) This is my first baby
5) I have a history of P.C.O.S. and there is a general fear that I will develop gestational diabetes or hyper-tension.

Now, I have passed every blood test, the baby is healthy enough to be a poster-child for how a baby should develop, and my blood pressure is too low if it's too anything.

I know I'm off the topic of the original post but what do any of the above listed reasons have to do with increasing your risk?
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nudhistbudhist
I think your Midwife is a Medwife... sounds like she's looking to avoid a homebirth for no good reason. Having a large baby is not a reason to not have a homebirth! Neither is because you *might* get gest diab. or *might* have high blood pressure! Have you posted in the homebirth section?

I planned a homebirth, and laboured at home, and was doing good, and my MEDwife gave up on me and made me go to the hospital. The OB would do nothing but give me a Csection. for no reason. I was taking too long (prolly cause I felt rushed). ANYWAYS if your midwife isnt supporting you now, she may not help you have the birth you want. All I know is that I tried to ignore my feelings about my midwife, and ended up not having the birth that I wanted. Make sure you advocate for yourself and are confident in your care providers!!! Be strong mama
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MFuglei
I've had two totally uneventful vaginal births since I was diagnosed with HPV. When I had my first, I had a small wart on my labia but nothing in the birth canal.

The types of warts that can colonize the eyes and throat (that you've seen online) are very rare -- there are over 200 strains of HPV, about half of which affect the genitals. There are very few that are actually transmissable to the eyes and throat.

Standard treatment protocal for HPV in pregnancy is to treat active warts with trichloracetic acid, freeze them with liquid nitrogen, or use aldara. There are side effects and risks with each. Pregnancy will aggravate and cause the warts to grow, but hopefully with good medical management, you can get them to go down before you deliver.

As to the "good" girl aspect. . . I'd work hard to let that go if I were you. Sexually transmitted diseases are not a punishment and warts are extraordinarily common. According to my HCP, they are often left untreated in older women, unless the women want them gone for cosmetic purposes or they grow.
:

Good luck. Feel free to PM me if you'd like.
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GoodNamesGone
MEDwife, huh? I hadn't heard that one.

I'm new to this whole "crunchy" life-style and not exactly sure what to think a lot of the time. I don't know ALL the questions to ask.

Today was a midwife appointment, and she said I wasn't high risk, I was just a case that needed to have an eye kept on it. I thought that was strange- I was led to believe I was borderline high risk, hence the no homebirth decision. She didn't want me jumping that particular border DURING my labor.

My mother was freaked at the idea of home birth. She's not your traditional non-crunchy mother. Her reasons were simply that she's scared the baby will be too big. This is also where she told me my shoulders were too broad, and that was why I was a c/s.

I've given her a lot of the education on all-things-natural that I've recieved and made a believer out of her too- but she still wants me "Better safe than sorry" in a hospital. She also respects the fact that it's ultimately MY choice.

Argh... I don't know what to think.

Today was the first day my Midwife wasn't needing to rush out the door for something and she just chatted with me about things. She even got a little catty about my General Practioner wanting me to go to an OB/GYN. She's very well rounded, and her people skills amaze me at times. The experiance hasn't been perfect. But I've been told many times that it never is- especially your first prenatal/birth experiance.

There were some issues getting paper work to the clinic where I was to get my ultrasounds (another new topic for me, and I'm not sure where I stand) and I almost canned her- but she took care of everything, and offered her reasons for what had happened.

I really don't want to go through all the trouble changing Midwives with my medical just to find out I don't like the new one, or they're terrible, etc.

Thoughts and advice will be taken into consideration, I appriciate all that I have got so far.

I'm certainly not AS embarassed by the HPV as I was.
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