After a couple abnormal PAP smears at the age of 21 (I had been having sex since 16) my doctor told me they would take a small sample to check, then he said I had precancerous cells that needed to be removed by LEEP. Honestly, I never really thought much about it. He didn't mention HPV, although a friend said that the usually cause it cervical cancers and so I thought - ok, we'll have the LEEP done. I rode by bicycle to the Drs. office. He numbed my cervix and it was done. The only thing that freaked me out was the nurse showed me the piece they took off and I thought - ack! that's huge! I couldn't ride my bicycle home, but I was alright the next day and back to work and happy living life again. For the next 10 years I had normal PAP smears - they didn't test for HPV then. I am told I am HPV positive, but thus far nothing more abnormal appears. My doctor said it's not just transmitted the the typical heterosexual way, lesbians get it, and some think it could get under fingernails or the like. Condoms are great and people should use them, but I think of HPV more like the common cold - you just live with the fact its out there. I think people need to take this is stride. Get a PAP every year and look after yourself. Stop living in fear. There are far worse things in life. A woman in San Francisco, 30-35