It's important to remember that being diagnosed with HPV after menopause doesn't necessarily mean you contracted it after menopause, because the virus can lay dormant for years or even decades and then become active later in life. But, older women can contract HPV.
But women's risk for HPV is not over yet: There is sometimes a second peak around the age of menopause. Why? A study released early in 2013 of women 35 to 60 years old found that HPV in women at or after menopause may represent an infection acquired years ago.
A new study suggests that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women at or after menopause may represent an infection acquired years ago, and that HPV infections may exist below limits of detection after one to two years, similar to other viruses, such as varicella zoster, which can cause shingles.
Natural cervical cell changes (atrophic vaginitis) related to menopause can cause an abnormal Pap test. Usually cells return to normal on their own, after an infection has been treated or has resolved on its own.
After menopause a woman's estrogen levels decrease to very low levels. The vaginal tissues are affected by estrogen. Thinning of the tissues can make the cells appear abnormal on a Pap.
Post-menopausal women sometimes exhibit elevations in β-hCG that may cause the serum pregnancy test to be reported as positive; however, such patients are not pregnant.
Age 30-65 years
HPV test every 5 years. HPV/Pap cotest every 5 years. Pap test every 3 years.
Most abnormal Pap tests are caused by HPV infections. Other types of infection—such as those caused by bacteria, yeast, or protozoa (Trichomonas)—sometimes lead to minor changes on a Pap test called atypical squamous cells.
Your cervix changes with age
Once you go through the menopause your ovaries slowly stop producing the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which means that your cervix won't be able to produce as much mucus and this can lead to vaginal dryness.
You can develop HPV after age 50 when a virus that was dormant for years "reactivates" decades later.
Sometimes, after several negative HPV tests, a woman may have a positive HPV test result. This is not necessarily a sign of a new HPV infection. Sometimes an HPV infection can become active again after many years. Some other viruses behave this way.
– there's no evidence that HPV has triggers like herpes or asthma that cause flare ups, but many believe that a weakened immune system can lead to outbreaks being more likely. Genital warts are more likely to flare-up if your immune system is not able to effectively fight the HPV infection causing them to appear.
High risk-human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are known carcinogens. Numerous reports have linked the steroid hormone estrogen, and the expression of estrogen receptors (ERs), to HPV-related cancers, although the exact nature of the interactions remains to be fully elucidated.
Estrogen can in turn activate expression of HPV oncogenes potentially through ERα or perhaps other means. The interplay between HPV and estrogen may contribute to the synergistic activities of these viral and cellular factors in causing cervical cancer.
You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. It is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex. It also spreads through close skin-to-skin touching during sex. A person with HPV can pass the infection to someone even when they have no signs or symptoms.
HPV spreads through sexual contact and is very common in young people — frequently, the test results will be positive. However, HPV infections often clear on their own within a year or two. Cervical changes that lead to cancer usually take several years — often 10 years or more — to develop.
What causes an abnormal Pap test? Most abnormal Pap tests are caused by HPV infections. Other types of infection—such as those caused by bacteria, yeast, or protozoa (Trichomonas)—sometimes lead to minor changes on a Pap test called atypical squamous cells.
It's up to 30 percent of people [who] are falsely positive." These false positive cases can lead to unnecessary, higher risk follow-up procedures, like biopsies. "That's a lot of women that are unnecessarily worried.
The most common reason for a negative Pap test with a positive HPV result is that the patient has an HPV infection, but the infection is not causing any cellular abnormalities. Cellular abnormalities caused by HPV can be quite focal on the cervix, while the HPV infection can be more widespread.
A positive HPV test means you do have an HPV type that may be linked to cervical cancer. This does not mean you have cervical cancer now. But it could be a warning. The specific HPV type may be identified to determine the next step.
HPV positive: no abnormal cells
If none are found, your result will say you have HPV , but no abnormal cells. We will ask you to come for screening again sooner than usual (your result letter will explain when). This is so we can check if your immune system has got rid of the HPV (this happens in most cases).
Pap Results Are Often Inaccurate
Sometimes these false positive Paps can be explained by a recent vaginal infection, or trauma to the cervix due to douching, tampons, or intercourse; sometimes the false positives just represent an inherent limitation of the test.
HPV is very common. It is estimated that up to 80% of people in Australia have HPV at some time in their lives. Many people who have HPV have no idea that they have been exposed to the infection.
Q: How long after exposure does it usually take for something to be detectable? A: Changes consistent with HPV can usually be detected within 3-6 months after exposure to the infection.