Can Hpv Be Dormant and Become Active Again
Medically reviewed on Feb 22, 2022 by Jordan Stachel, Chiliad.S., RDN, CPT. To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell web log is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.
Man papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) [1]. Roughly 80 percent of adults will contract information technology at some point during their lifetime [two].
While many people catch HPV, very few people realize they have it. That's because HPV can remain dormant in the trunk without causing any noticeable symptoms.
If you're wondering "How long tin HPV be dormant?" y'all're in the right place. The answer is a broad one, nevertheless. HPV carriers may live asymptomatically with the infection for every bit little equally a couple of months or their unabridged life subsequently becoming sexually active. Although this is the case, Everlywell has an HPV examination kit which allows you lot to easily detect HPV from your ain home.
To help you acquire more near this ubiquitous disease, we'll debunk some popular myths nearly HPV dormancy and discuss a few means to prevent information technology from spreading.
7 HPV Dormancy Myths
To beginning, let's examine the truth behind the post-obit vii HPV dormancy myths:
Myth #ane: HPV has a set dormancy period
While HPV tin remain dormant for a long time, the maximum elapsing of its dormancy catamenia is largely unknown. It seems to vary from person to person.
Some people articulate their HPV infections within a few months, while others tin can take fallow HPV for decades—possibly the rest of their lives.
Myth #2: In one case you get HPV, information technology never goes away
While HPV tin can remain fallow in the body for a long time, studies show that most people clear the virus within one to 2 years [3].
Just look at one report'southward findings on HPV infection clearance time in college-aged women [4]:
- 70% of women cleared their HPV infection within i year
- 91% of women cleared their HPV infection within ii years
- The median HPV infection duration was eight months
Myth #3: HPV infections ever produce symptoms
Quite the opposite—HPV infections rarely cause symptoms. About people clear their infection before they ever realize they take information technology.
The chances of experiencing a symptom from an HPV infection are influenced past the:
- Immune arrangement – When you lot contract HPV, the allowed system is responsible for fighting it off. Having a strong, healthy allowed system can help the body clear the infection faster.
If the immune system is weak due to a poor nutrition, stress, HIV, or other immune-suppressing conditions, you may be more than likely to experience symptoms from an HPV infection.
- HPV strain – In that location are over 100 different strains of HPV [5]. Most of these strains never result in symptoms and don't require treatment.
However, some strains of HPV are considered high-risk. For instance, HPV sixteen and 18 can pb to diverse types of cancer. Studies show that strains 6 and 11 can also crusade genital warts [half-dozen].
Even if the immune organization fights off a low-gamble strain of HPV quickly and no symptoms are noticed, y'all can nonetheless transmit the virus to others. That's why getting vaccinated confronting HPV plays such a crucial role in its prevention.
Myth #iv: You lot can't get reinfected with HPV once you've cleared the infection
Since there are and so many different strains of HPV, you may clear ane infection and catch another strain in the time to come. Reactivation of symptoms from a previous HPV infection tin can also occur if the allowed arrangement hasn't completely cleared the virus nevertheless.
Myth #5: Getting a positive HPV examination event during a long-term relationship indicates cheating
Since HPV is usually symptomless, near people simply find out they have it from the following:
- Positive HPV test
- Aberrant pap smear result
- Outbreak of genital warts
If you lot've been in a monogamous relationship for a long time, receiving an STI diagnosis of any kind can be pitiful. Y'all may wonder if your partner passed this sexually transmitted illness to you from a by sexual partner. While possible, this isn't necessarily the instance with HPV.
HPV may have been contracted a long time ago. The infection could have been lying fallow for a long time. Furthermore, it can take years for an HPV infection to cause abnormalities in the cervical cells that are detectable during a pap smear. Due to the nature of HPV dormancy, having a sudden HPV symptom or symptoms arise doesn't e'er hateful infection took place recently.
Myth #6: Condoms offer complete protection against HPV
Condoms tin certainly reduce the chance of contracting HPV, but they don't offering complete protection. That'due south because HPV is largely transmitted through peel-to-peel contact [seven]. Any skin-to-pare contact in the genital surface area can transmit the virus, even if it occurs exterior of intercourse. Since condoms only encompass a portion of genital peel, they may still allow HPV transmission to take identify.
Myth #vii: HPV only affects women
Due to the prevalence of cervical cancer screening, women may be more than enlightened of the risk of HPV than men. While men are less probable to experience symptoms from HPV, they can still contract the virus, spread it to others, and potentially develop genital warts or cancer from it.
Some types of cancer that have been linked to HPV are [8]:
- Cervical cancer
- Anal cancer
- Penile cancer
- Vaginal cancer
- Vulvar cancer
- Oropharyngeal cancer
Since HPV tin can cause cancer and genital warts in both sexes, it's recommended that every human and woman receive the HPV vaccine before whatever sexual activity.
HPV Risk Factors
Now that y'all know the truth backside these HPV myths, you may exist wondering what the gamble factors are for contracting the virus.
Some of the most notable risk factors are [ix]:
- Being sexually active
- Engaging in unprotected sex activity
- Having sexual activity with several different partners
- Having a weakened immune system due to HIV or another condition
- Not getting vaccinated against HPV at a immature age
Since many of these adventure factors are quite mutual, it paints a clearer picture as to why HPV is such a widespread STI.
How to Reduce the Spread of HPV
Even though HPV is harmless in well-nigh cases, it's notwithstanding important to exercise what you lot can to minimize the spread of the virus.
Here are the all-time means to avert contracting HPV.
Get vaccinated confronting HPV
The HPV vaccine protects against the strains of HPV that are virtually probable to cause genital warts and cancer.
The CDC recommends that children become the HPV vaccine around historic period 11 earlier they become sexually active [10]. If y'all're an adult who hasn't yet been vaccinated against HPV, you tin still practise so up until the age of 45. The vaccine is approved for males and females.
Getting the HPV vaccine is the best manner to avoid spreading the virus and developing serious symptoms from a loftier-take a chance strain.
Get HPV testing earlier having sex with new partners
It'southward always a good idea to know your and your partner'due south STI status. Before having sex with someone new, consider getting HPV testing and other STI testing done to ensure yous don't pass anything on to each other.
Employ barriers during sex every time
Condoms and dental dams can offer some protection confronting HPV, as well as many other STIs.
Don't have sex if you lot accept a genital wart
A genital wart may indicate an active HPV infection. If you or your partner experience an outbreak of warts in the genital area, it's a adept idea to refrain from having sex until they've cleared up.
Keep the allowed arrangement stiff
There's a high gamble that you'll run across HPV at some betoken in life. In addition to getting vaccinated, supporting a good for you immune arrangement can help to articulate an HPV infection rapidly.
Here are a few allowed-boosting habits you can add to your lifestyle [eleven]:
- Eat a healthy diet that'southward depression in saturated fat and sugar
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
- Don't fume
- Notice means to reduce stress levels
Go screened for cervical cancer
A woman can preclude HPV-related cervical cancer by having regular pap smears and HPV tests.
The electric current cervical cancer screening recommendations are every bit follows [12]:
- Pap smears – Women who are 21 to 29 years old should have a pap smear every 3 years. Women who are thirty to 65 years old can reduce their pap smear frequency to every 5 years if they have an HPV test done at the same time.
- HPV tests – Women should accept an HPV test done every v years, starting at age 30 and continuing until the age of 65.
If you're wondering about the differences between HPV tests and pap smears, both are great for detecting cervical cancer. These ii screening tools can reveal any cervical cell abnormalities or loftier-risk HPV infections before they atomic number 82 to cervical cancer. If cervical cancer develops, these tests can help someone receive an early on diagnosis with a more optimistic prognosis.
Everlywell: HPV Dwelling Test Kit For Women
HPV is a common STI. Luckily, there are many means to protect yourself from it. In addition to getting the HPV vaccine, you tin monitor your cervical health with an at-domicile HPV test.
Hither at Everlywell, our calm High-Risk HPV Test is not-invasive and piece of cake to employ. You lot can administrate it from the comfort of your ain home. Later taking the test, all you lot have to do is transport information technology off to one of our CLIA-certified labs. You'll receive your results shortly after.
Your test results will help you lot determine if you have any of the fourteen high-take a chance strains of HPV, including the ones known to cause cervical cancer. Plus, you tin can discuss your results with i of our independent physicians at no extra charge.
Related content
Tin you take HPV without symptoms?
How many types of HPV are there?
HPV testing guidelines: hither's what you need to know
References
1. STD Facts - Human papillomavirus (HPV). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. URL. Accessed February 22, 2022.
2. HPV (Homo Papillomavirus). National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. URL. Accessed February 22, 2022.
3. Brown DR, Weaver B. Human Papillomavirus in Older Women: New Infection or Reactivation? Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2012;207(2):211-212.
4. Braaten KP, Laufer MR. Homo Papillomavirus (HPV), HPV-Related Affliction, and the HPV Vaccine. Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2008;i(1):2-x.
5. HPV (human papillomavirus). U.S. Nutrient and Drug Administration. URL. Accessed February 22, 2022.
6. Garnock-Jones KP, Giuliano AR. Quadrivalent Man Papillomavirus (HPV) Types half dozen, 11, 16, 18 Vaccine. Drugs. 2011;71(five):591-602.
7. HPV infection - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. URL. Accessed February 22, 2022.
8. Is HPV linked to cancers in men? Mayo Clinic. URL. Accessed February 22, 2022.
9. HPV infection - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. URL. Accessed February 22, 2022.
x. STD Facts - Homo papillomavirus (HPV). Centers for Disease Command and Prevention. URL. Accessed February 22, 2022.
xi. How to boost your immune organization - Harvard Wellness. Harvard Wellness. URL. Accessed February 22, 2022.
12. What Should I Know Virtually Cervical Cancer Screening? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. URL. Accessed February 22, 2022.
Source: https://www.everlywell.com/blog/hpv/how-long-can-hpv-be-dormant/
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