HPV lifespan question - Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Message Board

Bunky456 · 05-10-2007, 07:27 AM

Hey, everybody. I'm getting a pap smear next week and I suspect I have HPV. I have, however, read varying facts about how long the virus stays in the body and I'm desperate for some clarity! Some places I've read have said that you have it for life, (and seeing as condoms don't necessarily prevent the spread of the virus I hate to think what impact this will have on my sex life!) One other place said it usually takes around 10 months for the virus to be cleared from the body.

What gives? And I'm interested to hear how some of you folk living with HPV have been handling yourselves since being diagnosed?

Thanks a lot.

Bunky.

morrisun · 05-10-2007, 10:37 AM

Treatment depends on destroying or removing abnormal tissues, such as warts, pre-cancerous cellular abnormalities, or cancer itself. Even when these tissues are removed or destroyed, HPV often persists in surrounding areas. Therefore, although the symptoms of HPV can be treated, HPV infections themselves usually cannot be cured. Most warts and pap abnormalities will eventually go away on their own, even if not treated.

Good luck! Hopefully your pap will come back normal.

furtiva · 05-10-2007, 11:00 AM

that's a good question with many answers.

HPV might clear itself from the body within a year or two if you are clear of the risks factors and/or young (multiple sex partners, age 30 and so on) or it can lie dormant and come back months and years later when your immune system is off guard.

Even if you might get clear of some HPV strains at some point there is a good chance that you might get reinfected with new strains (if you have a new partner, the same one can't repass it to you)

bottom line, get your PAP's all the time.