VaginaPagina

So sorry you are dealing with this, btw. I know it is very stressful!

Here is the likely scenario. She got it before you two started dating. She gave it to you while it was still active in her system. Her system cleared it out, thus her most recent negative result. Maybe she was never even tested for it until it was already cleared from her system. Your system has not cleared it out and it was positive on your recent test.

The above person is correct. I have had HPV before but my body fought it off, and I test negative for it at this point. (And BTW, speaking as a non-monogamous person, I don't see your concerns invalidating at all. We aren't exactly down with cheating, either. (Yes, I have known people in non-monogamous relationships that have had partners cheat on them. Which at that point, is really fucking sad.))

She was likely not tested for HPV. Typically HPV testing is only performed if a person has a pap smear which shows cellular abnormalities (and even then, only in specific circumstances).

don't feel bad, most medical providers don't explain things terribly well, so people don't have a great understanding of exactly what's going on with that speculum and what the swabs are for. this is not a particularly awesome way to learn about it all, because i'm sure it's really stressful for you. do you have any questions about your test result and what to expect? VPers are amazing at providing reassuring information.

Tomorrow you'll have a colposcopy. That's a long and confusing word (people often mix it up with colonoscopy, but that's not what you're having! your tush will be left alone).

Colposcopy means that they will use a speculum to see the cervix, use a solution on a q-tip to soak the cervix and help 'highlight' the individual cells. They'll also use a thing that looks like a microscope on wheels (this is the colposcope) so they can see very closely and identify if there is any abnormality visible, and how severe the abnormality appears to be. If they can see anything that they want to look at more closely through the lab, they'll take a biopsy - just a tiny pencil-tip sized area, to verify the diagnosis.

The speculum you're familiar with, the swab doesn't feel like much of anything, the colposcope doesn't actually touch you at all. A biopsy can feel like a pinch or a cramp, but it's pretty quick. If you do have a biopsy, you can expect that they will put a solution on the biopsied area, to help it heal faster. That solution goes in looking like mustard, and comes out looking like old coffee grounds. It can also have an odor - sort of vinegary and just different. This is all very common and normal, and shouldn't worry you. The discharge stops within a few days, and then you can resume normal activities (sex, tub baths, swimming, etc).

Most abnormal pap smears end up being nothing of great importance. They warrant some follow up like this colposcopy, and maybe a repeat pap in 6 months or a year. Beyond that, it's just waiting for your immune system to kick into high gear and help those cervical cells heal and push the HPV out. HPV is super, super common and the overwhelming majority of cervix-having people will have it in their lifetimes. Most don't even know about it, and of those who do, most don't have any more than a couple of extra GYN type visits.

I hope this reassures you somewhat, and that your visit tomorrow goes smoothly.

Yeah, I talked to her just now and she was like "what the fuck?" but isn't 100% sure that she was tested for it; like me she just assumed it was routine.

Exactly--HPV tests aren't routinely done. My GYN once explained to me that virtually everyone who has ever had sex eventually gets it, and their body clears it, and that's that. (And you only test +ve when it's active.)