My pap came back abnormal cells. Can this be caused by the man I've been with the past 7 months?

Question: I have not been sexualy active for over a year until the past 7 months. I have had many UTI's with this man,and have NEVER had any before with my ex. He has had at least 7 partners in his life the last..... 1 1/2 years before me 7 months ago. My pap came back with unusual cells ....... I have never had a pap come back like this. I get one every year. There is no cervical cancer in my family nor have any women in my family had a pap come back unusual. I have been told that he could be the reason the pap was different this time. Can anyone tell me if there is truth to this? I'm 50 years old & he is 57. He was in Viet Nam in the late 60's.......is he perhaps carring something to cause me to have unusual cells? I have a "biopsy" next month & just want some heads up on this situation. I have not a clue about it. Thanks to anyone who may be able to help.

Answers:
Have you been checked for HPV?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease that is highly prevalent, yet often misunderstood. Recent scientific advances have established that certain types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. However, this cancer can almost always be prevented through regular screening and, if needed, treatment of abnormal cell changes. The challenge is to provide focused, much-needed education about HPV without causing undue fear.

Approximately 5.5 million new cases of sexually transmitted HPV occur in the U.S. each year, with at least 20 million people estimated to be currently infected. Direct annual medical costs for treating symptoms of HPV infection in the United States are estimated at $1.6 billion and the cost of the cervical cancer screening program (Pap smears) is $5 billion - $6 billion every year. Because research linking genital HPV and cervical cancer is relatively new, there is considerable confusion among patients, medical professionals, policy makers and the general public as to the best counseling, screening, treatment and prevention practices. Additionally, while anal and penile cancers are uncommon, HPV can put men at risk for these cancers, so care should be taken not to leave them out of these equations..

The majority of Americans are unaware of the link between certain types of HPV and cervical cancer: in one national survey, 70 percent of women were unable to name the cause of cervical cancer, and 76 percent had never heard of HPV. Additionally, fewer than half of clinicians responding to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey in 2004 were aware of differences between "high-risk" and "low-risk" HPV types. Exciting new technologies and research findings have advanced the capacity to conduct better HPV and cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Yet, their role in clinical management is often misunderstood.
Each year, approximately 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States. In most cases cervical cancer can be prevented through early detection and treatment of abnormal cell changes that occur in the cervix years before cervical cancer develops. We now know that these cell changes are caused by human papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV. The traditional test for early detection has been the Pap test. Now a test for HPV is being offered that can be used with the Pap test in women starting at 30 years of age and in women of any age when the Pap test alone has found slightly abnormal cell changes.

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One simple reason that can show up abnormal cells is if you had sexual intercourse the night before your pap smear. The residual semen will make the pap abnormal. This happened to me once and when the doctor went to do the biopsy she said everything looked normal and did not have to perform the biopsy. If this is the case for you, relax and don't worry but tell the doc that you had relations the night before the pap. If this is not the case get the biopsy done to find out what is going on. Good Luck!

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