I've been infected by high risk HPV and I have just finished some treatment for moderately abnormal cervical cells - it's called Letz Loop Diathermy where they numb the cervix and shave off the layer of dodgy cells with a heated wire -it really isn't that bad though girls! The injection didn't hurt that much at all as the cervix doesn't have that many nerve endings in it. Unfortunately my follow up smear has shown I still have some mildly abnormal cells there and have to go for a repeat smear in a year's time to check on there progress. Sometimes they spontaneously disappear, but sometimes they get worse and can lead to cervical cancer. Either way I've always had very regular smears - here in the UK they only offer routine every 3 years, but I know in Australia and Germany girls and women get them every year which i think is by far the best option.
Symphonic - HPV is definitely not genetic, it's sexually transmitted wart virus with many different types - the high risk ones are responsible for around 99% of all cell changes seen on cervical smears and subsequent cancers. The virus is so rife in the sexual population that it is very difficult to avoid it. It is also linked to cancer of the throat via oral sex and can also cause anal cancer if you indulge in that - I'm not sure if it is linked to penile cancer, but I think it wreaks more havoc on mucous membrance type tissues. The virus works by getting into the nuclei of your cells and changing the DNA in it thereby causing abnormal cell growth and cancer. You are right to ask about it because it is a huge problem.
I got tested initially in Australia where they actually test you for the HPV virus if your smear is abnormal - that's why I know which strain I have. They don't do that in the UK unfortunately - however an abnormal smear pretty much points to HPV involvement anyway so maybe that's why they don't bother. If your girlfriend has it she should really get checked up at least once a year, and if anything abnormal comes up get followed up by gynaecology - the procedures done seem worse than they are really, and any discomfort experienced is much better than dying from cancer or having to have a hysterectomy.
Blunderwoman - my cervix sometimes hides - often just adjustment of my position can make it pop into view - no need for them to rummage around like they are looking for gold!!! Ha ha
The good news is though that they have developed a HPV vaccine which is available. Unfortunately for us ladies who are already sexually active it won't work for us, but for any daughters we might have that aren't already sexually active it will work and might just save their lives. It's available to all school girls in the UK - I urge everybody to let their daughters have it if you can.
As for us older ladies the best policy is regular smears.
