Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus that can lead to health problems like genital warts and cancer. Many people wonder if HPV can be cured or healed. The short answer is that while there is no cure for HPV, the virus often clears on its own without causing any health problems. In most cases, the body is able to mount an immune response and suppress or eliminate HPV. However, HPV infections that persist can lead to cell changes that may progress to cancer. Fortunately, cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccines help prevent cancer by detecting abnormalities early and stopping infection.
What is HPV?
HPV is a group of over 150 related viruses, categorized as low-risk or high-risk depending on their potential to cause cancer. Low-risk HPV types like HPV 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts cases. High-risk HPV types like HPV 16 and 18 are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers as well as cancers of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus, and throat. Over 40 HPV types can be transmitted through skin-to-skin sexual contact and infect the mucous membranes of the genitals, anus, mouth, and throat. HPV is extremely common – nearly all sexually active individuals will get it at some point.
HPV infection statistics
Here are some key statistics on HPV infection:
- Around 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, with about 14 million new cases each year.
- About 1 in 4 Americans ages 18 to 59 are infected with a high-risk HPV type.
- Over 90% of new HPV infections, including high-risk types, clear or become undetectable within 2 years.
- Persistent high-risk HPV infection causes virtually all cervical cancers, 95% of anal cancers, and 70% of vaginal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal cancers.
Can HPV be cured?
There is currently no medical cure for HPV that can eliminate the virus completely from the body. However, most HPV infections are cleared from the body by natural immunity within 1 to 2 years. Up to 90% of new infections are suppressed by the immune system and become undetectable within 2 years. It is rare for an HPV infection to persist longer than that. In cases of persistent infection, cervical cancer screening can detect cell changes early so they can be monitored or treated.
How the immune system fights HPV
The immune system is responsible for eliminating HPV from the body in most individuals. It produces antibodies that bind to HPV viruses and prevent them from infecting new cells. Immune cells called T-cells also recognize and destroy any cells in the body that are infected with HPV. This immune response is enough to suppress and control most HPV infections before any symptoms or health problems occur.
Why HPV sometimes persists
In a minority of people, HPV is able to evade the immune response and persist in the body. This may occur for several reasons:
- The immune system is weakened or suppressed, for example in HIV infection or after an organ transplant.
- The HPV infection is left untreated for an extended period.
- The HPV type manages to avoid detection by antibodies and immune cells.
- The virus hides inside healthy cells where it can remain dormant.
Persistent HPV infection allows the virus to keep replicating in body cells unchecked. With high-risk HPV types, this ongoing replication can eventually lead to precancerous lesions and in some cases, cervical or other cancers.
What happens if HPV persists?
In most people with healthy immune function, the body is able to clear HPV infection on its own within 1 to 2 years. But in some, the virus evades the immune response and is able to persist in the body long-term. This happens more frequently in people who are immunocompromised.
When high-risk HPV persists for many years, it can cause normal cells to gradually develop precancerous changes. Over time, this can progress to cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, or throat cancers. That’s why persistent high-risk HPV infection is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer.
Cervical cell changes
With persistent HPV infection, normal cervical cells first develop precancerous changes called cervical dysplasia or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Low-grade CIN often regresses back to normal, while higher grade CIN is more likely to progress if left untreated. Both CIN2 and CIN3 are considered precancerous lesions that can advance to cervical cancer. However, they can also be monitored or removed to prevent cancer from developing.
Other HPV cancers
In addition to cervical cancer, long-term high-risk HPV infection can also lead to cancers of the:
- Vagina and vulva
- Anus
- Penis
- Mouth and throat
High-risk HPV types are found in about 70% of vaginal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal cancers, and over 90% of anal cancers. Routine cervical cancer screening with Pap and HPV tests can help detect persistent infections before they progress to cancer. Vaccination also prevents infection with the most high-risk HPV types.
How to clear an HPV infection
There is no cure for HPV itself. However, there are steps that can be taken to help clear an HPV infection:
- Get the HPV vaccine. It produces antibodies that help the immune system target the virus.
- Maintain good immune health through diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management.
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco products that suppress immunity.
- Use barrier protection like condoms to avoid reinfection and spreading HPV.
- For genital warts, have them removed by your doctor.
- Get regular Pap and HPV screening tests to monitor precancerous cell changes.
- Have a medical procedure like LEEP done to remove precancerous lesions on the cervix.
In most people, the immune system will take care of clearing an HPV infection on its own within a year or two. But healthy lifestyle measures that support immunity and cancer screening for high-risk HPV persistence are important.
HPV treatment methods
While HPV has no cure, treatments are available for the health conditions it can cause:
| HPV-related condition | Treatment options |
|---|---|
| Genital warts | Medications, freezing, surgery, laser therapy |
| Cervical dysplasia | Monitoring, LEEP, cone biopsy, hysterectomy |
| Cervical cancer | Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy |
| Other HPV cancers | Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy |
While HPV has no cure, its associated health conditions like genital warts, cervical dysplasia, and cancers can be treated. Catching precancerous changes early gives the best chance at preventing progression to cancer.
Does HPV go away on its own?
In most people, an HPV infection will usually go away on its own within 1 to 2 years. This happens because the immune system is able to mount an effective response against the virus in healthy individuals. Antibodies and immune cells work together to find and destroy HPV-infected cells, stopping the infection from spreading further.
Studies show the body clears HPV infection through its natural immunity about 90% of the time. However, it’s important to get routine cervical cancer screening done because there is still a chance of a persistent infection leading to cell changes.
HPV clearance statistics
Research indicates the majority of new HPV infections are eliminated by the immune system:
- About 90% of HPV infections clear within 2 years without causing any health problems.
- 70% of CIN1 cervical dysplasia regresses back to normal on its own within 1 year.
- Over 50% of CIN2 lesions also regress, while most CIN3 lesions will progress to cancer if not treated.
- 80 to 90% of genital warts will clear within 2 years, though recurrences are common.
The body is usually able to suppress HPV infection before complications can develop. But it’s still essential to get routine screening and follow-up for high-risk HPV types.
Why HPV goes away
There are a few key reasons why HPV infection often clears up on its own:
- Early immune response – The body mounts a robust antibody and cell-mediated response within the first 6-12 months.
- Healthy immune function – Most sexually active adults have strong immunity that fights infection effectively.
- Regression – Many low-grade cervical cell changes regress back to normal due to immune activity.
- Dormancy – The virus can become dormant inside cells and remain undetectable to the immune system.
In healthy people, HPV is suppressed before it can advance to disease. But infections that persist for years raise the risk of cancerous changes considerably.
Can HPV come back?
In most cases, the immune system is able to eliminate an HPV infection or suppress it to undetectable levels. However, HPV can sometimes reemerge later on, especially with certain high-risk types that tend to persist.
HPV reactivation
HPV is never fully gone from the body. After the infection appears cleared, the virus may still be present at extremely low or undetectable levels in body cells. This allows HPV to reactivate, causing detectable infection again. Reactivation can happen:
- When immunity is lowered by illness, stress, or medications.
- With hormonal changes, like pregnancy.
- With new exposure through sexual contact.
- Over time, as immune memory starts to fade.
In a study of over 1,500 women, HPV reappeared in 25% within 12 months after testing negative. Certain high-risk types like HPV 16 were most likely to reactivate.
HPV reinfection
HPV infection can also recur through new exposure to the virus. Even after one infection clears, it’s possible to get infected with the same HPV type again by having unprotected sex. This occurs most often in younger, sexually active individuals with multiple partners. Using condoms correctly each time can lower the risk of HPV reinfection.
The best protection is the HPV vaccine, which prevents infection from the types that cause most cancers. Getting vaccinated even after prior HPV exposure can help prevent future reinfection or reactivation.
Takeaway on whether HPV goes away
While HPV does not have a cure, most infections are suppressed by the immune system and become undetectable within 1-2 years. However, HPV may persist and come back later in a minority of people if immune control is lost. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types raises cancer risk, so routine screening is essential. Getting vaccinated, using condoms, quitting tobacco, and managing health conditions can all help the body clear HPV infection and stay protected.
Conclusion
HPV is a very common infection that cannot be cured, but often goes away on its own thanks to the immune system. In most healthy people, the body is able to clear HPV within one to two years before the virus leads to health problems. While HPV reactivation or reinfection can occur after it appears gone, vaccination provides effective protection against the high-risk types. Together with regular screening, monitoring precancerous cell changes, and managing any conditions through treatment, the risk of HPV turning into cervical cancer or other cancers can be minimized.