My life in sex: the woman with HPV
I’ve only ever had sex with three men, and been married for almost two decades
I have HPV – the human papillomavirus. Infections are common, but the strains I have mean that I’ve had to visit a specialist seven times in the last two months. I’m now at risk of cervical cancer, so have had to undergo a smear test, colonoscopy and multiple biopsies – all of which were very uncomfortable. I have genital warts, which are painful, and which didn’t respond to a topical solution or being burnt off with acid. Eventually I had to have them frozen with liquid nitrogen.
The pain is almost gone now, but I will have to be examined twice a year, which will no doubt bring the emotions flooding back.