| "I have something important to tell you, I went to the doctor who ran some tests "down there" |
| "Oh yeah, what did she say?" |
| "Well she said I have a common virus that 80% of the population gets (sources) but only 1% ever show symptoms. lucky me!" |
| "Wow 80% is common, what does it do?" |
| "In the vast majority of people it does absolutly nothing, for others it causes cell changes on the cervix." |
| "Cell changes, Cervix, I am confused..." |
| "I am not 100% sure myself. All i know is I probably have to go in for treatments, or I can just watch and wait depending on the severity of the cell changes. Its a highly treatable infection caused by a virus called HPV." |
| "HPV? Watch and wait? I have heard HPV linked with cancer..do you have cancer? |
| "Let me explain. While HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, in reality it is very rare for HPV cases to progress to invasive cancer (source). For this to occur the virus must stay in a womans body for many many years, we're talking at least 10 to 15 (source). It is extremely uncommon for even severe dysplasia (thats what the cell changes are called) to progress to cancer if its properly treated. After, usually even before, treatment most people develop an effective immune response and clear the infection. (sources)" |
| "Hmm, well wait a minute you said "virus" can i catch this from you?" |
| "Well since its on my cervix during treatment its possible to transfer it to you during sex but once treated, the chance of it rubbing of on someone else drastically falls (source). She said use a condom and don't worry so much. Even if you do aquire it, in men it causes no ill effects and most clear the infection in a rather short period of time" |
| "Well, ok, I'm glad you told me. I still have some questions" |
| "We can research it together, I'm kinduv down on myself over the whole thing." |
| "What are you talking about, 80% get it, all it does is cause some "Cell changes", its treatable, and your immune system will eventually take care of it, and other than that your life goes on as normal?" |
| "Well, yeah" |
| "Oh! I thought you said you had something "REALLY IMPORTANT" to tell me..." |
