HPV (human papilloma virus) treatment - infection and lesions in cervix and vagina

I tested positive for HPV. What should I do? Is there a treatment? Should I seek if there is one?

According to medical literature, many women, even majority of us, carry HPV at least one point in our life as long as we have sex. So, what does it mean if I am told that I carry HPV? What will happen to me?

The good news is that in most cases the virus is cleared by the body’s own defence mechanisms within two years.

Since the chance of being infected with HPV is very high and most women do not require treatment, doctors do not routinely give a test for HPV.

However, some people do not manage to clear the virus and a fraction of these women end up with wounded tissues called 'lesions'. One research shows that the chance of this is one in ten women with HPV. A lesion can take 8-10 years to develop after the initial infection.

Once present, lesions can exist for years without causing any real harm. However, for some very unlucky people with lesions, 1 in 50 according to one study, the lesions grow into cancer. There are a number of different types of HPV among the HPV family and certain types that cause more likely than others. Low risk HPV can cause warts which almost never cause cancer, while lesions formed by high risk HPV infections have a higher (although small) risk of causing cancer.

This is why women are recommended to have smear tests regularly. The smear is tested for HPV, and if it shows that the woman has been infected with HPV, the doctor will check for any abnormalities in the cells of the smear. If there are abnormal cells, the woman will be invited for the doctor to assess for lesions on the cervix. If any are found, they will be removed  surgically. If no abnormal cells are detected, then typically the woman will be asked to return in a year's time to check if the infection has been cleared. This is known as the 'wait and see' period.

Once a woman who has tested positive for high risk HPV with lesions has been treated surgically, her doctor will ask her to have regular check ups to see whether the infection persists and whether the lesion recurs or not.

This is a stressful period for women with infections. One research showed that women in the ‘wait and see’ period are tormented with a number of questions such as:

• How have I caught HPV?
• Why do I have a sexually transmitted disease?
• How can I get rid of the virus?
• Do I have a cancer?
• Should I tell my partner? Can I infect him?

Most specialist doctors (colposcopists) are concerned with the stress that the women experience since stress may alter immune response and can also change the bacterial flora of women’s tissues, which have protective effects against harmful viruses and bacteria. In short, stress may be counterproductive in the body’s effort to clear the virus.

There are effective vaccines for HPV and students between the ages of 11 and 13 are getting vaccinated in many countries. You can also get this vaccine if you have not already been infected with HPV. However, these vaccines do not work for women who already have HPV.

So if I have HPV, is there anything I can do to help my immune system clear the virus? Is there an effective treatment? How can I cope with the stress of just having to ‘wait and see’?

Currently, there is no medicine that eradicates the virus. However, there is a product called Papilocare vaginal gel® that has some evidence to show that it helps the woman's body to fight infection and recover from lesions.

For example, patients with high risk HPV and lesions were given Papilocare vaginal gel® for 6 months. The tissue was normalised among 88% of the patients, compared to 56% for the control group without Papilocare vaginal gel® . HPV clearance among high-risk HPV patients after 6 months of Papilocare vaginal gel® use was 63% for the user group vs 40% for the non user group, although statistical significant yet to be achieved due to small number of patients studied. There are additional independent medical studies that showed similar positive results for Papliocare use, although they are not compared to non-users.

Papilocare vaginal gel® is made exclusively with natural ingredients. The main ingredients and their intended effects are:

• Bioecolia: modulate the microbiota; natural bacterial flora is known to play an important role in keep harmful virus and bacteria away
• Coriolus versicolor: stimulates immune response; this is a mushroom used in Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Neem (azadirachta indica): repairs tissues
• Aloe vera: repairs tissues

The product has been available in Europe since 2016 and over 40,000 women in France, Spain, Italy and Portugal have used it. A number of studies have been done in Spain and Italy and their results have been published and discussed at gynaecology conferences. There has not been any report of serious adverse effects.

If you are interested to learn more about Papilocare vaginal gel®.

The important thing is not to be overwhelmed by the news of bad smear and HPV test results. First and foremost, follow your doctor’s guidance and take recommended tests regularly. During the 'wait and see' period, stay positive and take care so that your immune system remains strong.

Disclaimer: Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. For medical advice, diagnosis and prescription, please consult a healthcare professional.

Low sex drive or ‘low libido’ is a common issue. It affects men and women of all ages, and, in particular, women who are middle aged or those going through menopause.

Low sex drive is caused by a number of factors;

• changes in hormone levels
• relationship issues
• medical issues (e.g. vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, diabetes),
• cultural and psychological challenges.

Women typically experience a decrease in sexual desire as they age and, in particular, as they go through menopause. Sex drive deceases gradually with age in both men and women, however, women are more likely to be affected.

The hormone testosterone plays an important role in women’s sex drive and sensation and decreasing levels of the hormone is believed to be a cause in the decline of sexual interest among midlife women.

In the years around menopause, women may become particularly concerned about their sex life. Changes in oestrogen hormone levels create physical and psychological stress and can also cause vaginal tissues to become thinner and drier, which, in turn, can make sexual intercourse difficult and painful.

So what can I do? Are there good treatments?

Although general wellbeing and a healthy and positive relationship with your partner are the foundations for maintaining a healthy sex life, there are a number of things you can do to help:

Maintaining a healthy body is the first step

• Be active
• Avoid smoking, drugs and alcohol
• Maintain a healthy vagina

To help maintain healthy vagina, it is recommended to practice pelvic floor exercise. Avoid products that irritate the vagina, and, if necessary, consider using products to protect vaginal tissue. There are many natural ingredient-based products that help restore healthy vagina including Palomacare
and Idracare, which help to restore vaginal tissue, add moisture and rebalance microbiome.

Then, doctors recommend that you maintain a healthy connection with your partner. Work on improving the connection you have and allow more time to become aroused during sex.

Although there is no approved prescription drug in Europe to treat women’s low sex drive, there are natural ingredient-based products such as Libicare, which is scientifically proven to be effective in increasing sex drive in women.

Libicare is a blend of three natural herbs to promote sexual desire, arousal and orgasm among women with low libido. These herbs have been historically used in the Chinese and Arabic cultures, namely:

• Trigonella (Trigonella foenum-graecum): positive effect on sexual function. Improves desire and arousal, increases free testosterone concentration
• Tribulus (Tribulus terrestris): Improves desire in women with female sexual interest/ arousal disorder
• Damiana (Turnera aphorodisiaca): Used as an aphrodisiaic, it has an aromatase inhibitor effect which can lead to an increase in free testosterone
• Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba): Facilitates blood flow and has a relaxing effect on smooth musle, an important process for the sexual response in women

A recent clinical study has shown that 86% of women who took Libicare felt improvement in sexual performance after taking Libicare for two months. Improvements were statistically significant in desire, pleasure, lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction. A new clinical study has been initiated as of March 2019.

Another study found that the product increases the level of testosterone available in the blood. As you know, testosterone hormone is an important enhancer of female sexual drive and some doctors prescribe the hormone to women with severe loss of libido.

Finally, Libicare’s ingredients (Trigonella and Tribulus) have clinical evidence for improving sexual desire, arousal and orgasm.

Libicare was mentioned in the mainstream media Daily Mail and the Sun in the UK, so you might be familiar with the product.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7750121/Libido-boosting-pill-curry-herb-increases-womens-sex-drive.html

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10470525/curry-flavoured-tablet-makes-women-hornier-and-boosts-their-sex-drive/

Livbio is the only official distributor of Libicare in the UK and unlike other distributors in Europe, the company provides packages in English language. Libicare can be purchased from Livbio's website.

As you can see, there are a number of actions, you can take to tackle the low sex drive challenge: healthy lifestyle, good relationship with your partner, supplements and health products and exercise. You should also talk to doctors who you connect with.

Disclaimer: information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. For medical advice, diagnosis and prescription, please consult a healthcare professional.