This is a common question and one that has been answered several times throughout this thread. The issue here seems to be people's definitions. Often you will hear the word "cleared" and this is interpreted incorrectly as cured. Because lesions caused by HPV can go away this should in no way be confused with the elimination of the virus by the body.
The body is capable of keeping the virus in a dormant state such that no further lesions or symptoms will occur but once you have contracted the HPV virus you will have it for life. There is no cure for HPV. The virus can become active again and just when this will occur has no set course. There are some things which can be closely linked to reactivation of lesion development and active HPV which include pregnancy, increased levels of stress, re-exposure to the virus from a new partner which can increase the viral load but again this is largely an individual issue.
Most people are aware of or have had Chicken Pox. This virus also remains dormant but in this case it remains dormant in the nerve roots. Later in life it can become active but presents at Shingles, a condition with a rash typically around the waist circumferentially around the body which is very very painful. This is just another example of a virus which can be dormant for years, even decades, and then resurface again.
So in a nutshell, there is no cure for HPV and once you have contracted it you will have it for life. Whether or not you continue to have ongoing lesions or the virus becomes dormant and recurs at a later point in time cannot be predicted. The best protection is to get vaccinated with Gardasil and use condoms to reduce transmission of the virus by reducing the skin surface contact. However Gardasil only protects again two of the over 30 high risk strains of HPV and although these are the two most common strains in producing cancerous lesions there are many others. Don't let anyone tell you that HPV can be cured. Telling you that it can "go away" is not the same as cured. Perhaps you could correct them and insert the word dormant instead which is more appropriate.
Comment Reply
This is a common question and one that has been answered several times throughout this thread. The issue here seems to be people's definitions. Often you will hear the word "cleared" and this is interpreted incorrectly as cured. Because lesions caused by HPV can go away this should in no way be confused with the elimination of the virus by the body.
The body is capable of keeping the virus in a dormant state such that no further lesions or symptoms will occur but once you have contracted the HPV virus you will have it for life. There is no cure for HPV. The virus can become active again and just when this will occur has no set course. There are some things which can be closely linked to reactivation of lesion development and active HPV which include pregnancy, increased levels of stress, re-exposure to the virus from a new partner which can increase the viral load but again this is largely an individual issue.
Most people are aware of or have had Chicken Pox. This virus also remains dormant but in this case it remains dormant in the nerve roots. Later in life it can become active but presents at Shingles, a condition with a rash typically around the waist circumferentially around the body which is very very painful. This is just another example of a virus which can be dormant for years, even decades, and then resurface again.
So in a nutshell, there is no cure for HPV and once you have contracted it you will have it for life. Whether or not you continue to have ongoing lesions or the virus becomes dormant and recurs at a later point in time cannot be predicted. The best protection is to get vaccinated with Gardasil and use condoms to reduce transmission of the virus by reducing the skin surface contact. However Gardasil only protects again two of the over 30 high risk strains of HPV and although these are the two most common strains in producing cancerous lesions there are many others. Don't let anyone tell you that HPV can be cured. Telling you that it can "go away" is not the same as cured. Perhaps you could correct them and insert the word dormant instead which is more appropriate.
April 28, 2010 - 7:31pmThis Comment
Reply