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Anonymous

I believe the statement "If you ever contract HPV, although signs and symptoms may disappear, you remain infected with the virus and can pass it along to others," is misleading.

Leading doctors in this field feel differently.

Is HPV a lifelong virus or will it eventually go away?

A. What can be said with certainty is that the most sensitive tests available--tests that detect HPV DNA in genital tissues--become negative within 6-12 months in over 90% of infected persons. We also know that once the test becomes negative, the person is immune to catching the same HPV type again, which is further evidenced that the infection was truly eradicated by the immune system. However, it remains possible that HPV DNA (or maybe even intact virus particles) persists in small amounts, too small for detection by the available tests. Whether this happens at all, or in what proportion of infected persons, cannot be known with certainty with available technology. But if infection persists, it almost certainly is in amounts to small to be transmitted to another person and probably will never re-grow to cause warts or precancerous growth. But in most persons the most infections are controlled by the immune system and most experts believe they are truly cured. For "quick and dirty" responses by clinicians like me, the evidence is good enough to say "cure" and to reassure our patients accordingly.

http://www.hpvsupport.com/viewtopic.php?t=5261

March 19, 2009 - 11:34am

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