Can HPV go away on its own?

The HPV test is very accurate is picking up HPV however the most specific is the ISH (in situ hybridization for HPV DNA). However this is a very expensive test, takes about a month for results but will determine the strains of the virus which you have. This should only be performed if a typical HPV test has been returned as positive and in most cases it is not covered by insurance nor is it necessary since treatment for high risk HPV will be the same regardless of the strain.

As for the questions above. HPV does not technically "go away". It can go dormant so that it would show up negative on anHPV test but thsi does not mean the virus is still not in your body. it will ALWAYS be in your body unfortunately from now on and yes you can always run the risk os passing the virus on to your partner at any point in time. If you are not showing any signs of cell changes, dysplasia, then yes you need not do anything other than normal follow ups with routine testing. You should get the vaccine if you are in the age where you still can and any men you date should get it as well to protect them. There are age limitations however but it is now approved for men so you should encourage your partners to get the vaccine. Some docs will tell YOU that if you are already HPV positive you cannot get the vaccine. This is NOT true and you should question the doc as to where they got this info as circular provided with vaccine disputes this claim. So they either haven't read it or are ignoring it unless of course you are over 26 years of age because it is only covered by insurance to that age. You can get it "off label" meaning if you are over age 26 from some docs but will have to pay for it yourself a cost of about $350.

I have had only one sexual encounter with an individual 5 years ago and have not been active since. I learned 4 months ago I have the HPV virus. Had a colposcopy test done and the doctor said I did not need to do anything further at this time. I am concerned for future relationships. Will I infect them with the HPV virus? If the HPV virus can go away on its own, are you still a carrier of it once it goes away? If I am not sexually active for a very long time after being told I had HPV but was told I didn't need to do anything further to treat it other than continue with annual pap tests and it goes away naturally can I transmit it to my partner? Will I always run the risk of infecting someone else with the HPV virus if I have not been sexually active since my one encounter?

The fact that your girlfriend has previously tested positive for HPV means that despite future negative tests, the virus will still remain in her body. Though it may be dormant, there is no information to suggest that it is impossible to transmit the virus while dormant. In other words, yes she can.

For years we were told that herpes could not be spread unless you were having an outbreak. Now we know this is not true and that it can be spread at any point in time. There is nothing to say that this would be any different for HPV so precaution is advised.

However, before you may consider cutting and run, keep in mind that HPV's negative effects, ie. cancer effect women far more often than men and as such your risks would be lower. It is a small percentage of people who have HPV who develop cancer and other cell changes and given the fact that eight out of ten people have HPV you are more than likely to encounter this with any future girlfriend as well.

Consider your GFs feelings and try to be supportive. She cannot help that she has contracted HPV. She is in a good place (negative) and apparently wants to be in that good place with you. That should count for something shoulnd't it? Life is about being in relationships through the good AND the bad remember. You may end up on the bad end of things some day and I'm sure you would want the same love and support if you are.

My girlfriend tested positive for hpv three years ago. In the past two years she has tested negative. Does this mean she can still give me hpv and make me a carrier?

Amazing the different perspective between two people and the same post. Obviously another RN and I'm sure others were capable of viewing the information for the educational value it was posted for and not in response to someones specific request for support. It is truly unfortunate that the facts are so intimidating to you. All of the information posted is documented and researched and as for the comparison to HIV, this was merely to point out how other conditions can be transmitted through bodily fluids and it is not far fetched to think HPV may be any different. It's a shame you are unable to see the comment for what it is. Far too much was told to us about genital herpes for example such that it can only be spread during an outbreak, which was later found to be untrue. It is not unreasonable to question whether this may be true of HPV as well since it may help prevent contracting the virus if the same is learned about HPV. Investigating these things are part of what medicine is all about and making comparisons has often lead to great breakthroughs in science and medicine. Implying that only doctors can have "real" information is of course ridiculous. There are vast numbers of individuals involved with HPV from research to vaccine development who probably know more than many doctors.
Your choice of insulting the nursing profession is also unfortunate. I've met far too many doctors who know little if anything about HPV and some who have compromised their patient's through this lack of knowledge.
My DOCTOR informed me that the lesion I found was completely normal and there was no reason to biopsy it. When this upset me he performed a second surgery 2 1/2 months later at which time he commented on how stupid he felt doing a biopsy on tissue that looked completely normal. Well it wasn't normal and if I had just listened to his opinion the first time around I would probably be at a Stage 4 with liver metastases by now. So much for HIS "real" knowledge.
The fact that you would leave a very good website because you didn't like an answer is not only extreme it's sad because you're depriving yourself going forward.
My post was not in response to anyones particular post or response for support. It was meant to expand on things which were typically not discussed and which research is proving out as time goes by. It is to make the point that HPV is not solely about cervical cancer but more far reaching than that. I'm not sure just whom you expected me to be sympathetic to in that post - perhaps yourself which would account for your upsetment. Having dealt with HPV to the extent that I have makes me very empathetic and compassionate towards those dealing with HPV and its ramifications. This post simply wasn't focused on one of them
Harald zur Hausen, MD is a virologist, researcher and recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery that HPV caused cervical cancer. If anyone is familiar with what is and isn't real knowledge when it comes to HPV it's Dr. zur Hausen. After all, he spent over two decades researching HPV.
Dr. zur Hausen recently endorsed and wrote the foreward for a book on HPV. He wrote:
"This is not ony a book for "any mother's daughter' but also for anyone who wishes to become informed about HPV infections, but it also belongs into the hands of many practicing physicians who need to refresh their knowledge of HPV."
So as far as your comment that you will research HPV yourself and get your advice from the doctors who have "real" knowledge, all I can say is that the book that Dr. zur Hausen endorsed and wrote the foreward for and which he describes above, is mine.

Bonnie, Although I truly appreciate your knowledge on this subject the demeaning tone you use in your post refering to those of us who have questions is just rude.We are on here to find answers, many answers to our one question. We want all the answers available. So yes, we may ask the same question more than once. I appreciate you giving a link to that website & recommending further procedures to make sure we are cancer free. However, I find little sympathy from you reading your post. I know I joined this forum to get support and answers and know that I am not alone, you have provided some answers but no support. Honestly, what you wrote in your post is quite scary comparing HPV to HIV. I understand you want to share your "knowledge" with us but you are not a doctor, you are an RN, therefore I will no longer use this particularly website for answers & support. I will find a more SUPPORTIVE one & research HPV on my own & get advice from doctors who have real knowledge of HPV