HPV (human papillomavirus) is a very common virus that can infect anyone who is sexually active. There are over 100 different types of HPV, with around 40 types that can infect the genital areas. HPV is primarily spread through sexual contact and most people will get infected at some point in their lives.
In most cases, the immune system will fight off an HPV infection naturally within 1-2 years. When this happens, the virus clears from your system and you no longer have an active infection. However, there is no test to determine if you have completely cleared an HPV infection. This means it can be difficult to know for sure if you still have HPV or if your body has gotten rid of it.
HPV Testing
Currently, there are two main types of HPV tests available:
HPV DNA Test
This test detects the presence of HPV genetic material (DNA) in cervical cells. A positive HPV DNA test indicates you have a current HPV infection that your immune system has not yet cleared. If you continue to test positive for the same high-risk strain of HPV over many years, it can signify a persistent infection that may require further evaluation.
HPV Antibody Test
This blood test detects antibodies your immune system makes against HPV. A positive antibody test means you were exposed to HPV in the past, but it does not necessarily mean you still have an active infection. Antibodies can remain in the blood long after initial exposure and clearance of HPV. An HPV antibody test alone cannot determine if the infection has been cleared.
Signs of HPV Clearance
Since there is no test to definitively show HPV clearance, doctors have to rely on other signs and measures:
Normal Pap Test
For women, having regular normal Pap tests is a good indication that any previous HPV infection has likely cleared. Pap tests check for any cervical cell changes that can signal precancer or cancer. As long as your Pap results come back negative, it suggests any previous HPV infection did not progress and your immune system was able to clear it.
Negative HPV Test
If you previously tested positive for HPV but now have a negative HPV test, it is a strong sign your immune system has cleared the infection. However, false negatives are possible. In some cases, the virus level may have temporarily decreased below detectable levels but could become active again later. Repeat testing helps confirm if HPV remains cleared over time.
Resolution of HPV-related Changes
For some people, HPV initially causes visual changes that can be monitored to see if they resolve. For example, HPV can cause genital warts. If the warts eventually disappear and do not recur, it indicates your immune system cleared the infection. HPV can also cause abnormal cell changes on the cervix, vagina, anus or penis. If surveillance biopsies over time show these areas now have normal cells, it is a good sign the HPV infection has cleared.
Regression of Cervical Cell Changes
When HPV infects the cervix, it can cause precancerous changes in the cells called cervical dysplasia. Low-grade dysplasia often regresses back to normal without treatment, signaling the body cleared HPV. Even some higher grade dysplasia can improve over time if HPV is cleared. Doctors monitor these changes with repeat Pap tests and colposcopy examinations to determine if the cervical cells have returned to normal.
Other Considerations
A few other factors to keep in mind when trying to determine if HPV has cleared:
Recurrent Infections are Possible
Even if HPV seems to clear, you can still get re-infected with the same strain again later. Using condoms correctly every time you have sex can help lower this risk. Ongoing HPV vaccination provides protection against new infections.
Clearance Varies by HPV Type
The body is better able to clear low-risk HPV strains compared to high-risk types. High-risk HPV is more likely to persist and lead to cell changes. Careful monitoring and repeat testing is important, especially for high-risk HPV.
Men Cannot Rely on Screening Tests
Unfortunately, there are no approved HPV tests or routine screening for HPV-related cancers in men like the Pap test for women. Visual inspection can detect genital warts. Anal pap tests check for cell changes in gay men or men with compromised immune systems. But most heterosexual men have no clear way to monitor HPV clearance.
HPV Can Lie Dormant
HPV may enter a non-detectable latent state rather than being completely eradicated. Months or years later, it can reactivate and cause new infections or lesions. Doctors may describe this as HPV remaining “dormant” in your body.
How Long Does it Take to Clear HPV?
Most healthy people are able to clear an HPV infection within 1 to 2 years. However, the duration until clearance varies based on your immune function and HPV type:
Low-Risk HPV Types (Types 6 and 11)
Causes 90% of genital warts. Typically clears within 1 year.
High-Risk HPV Types (Types 16 and 18)
Responsible for 70% of cervical cancers. May take 1-2 years to clear. But can persist and increase cancer risk.
Other High-Risk Types (31, 33, 45 etc)
Other cancer-causing strains. On average takes about 1.5 years for the body to clear.
People with Weakened Immune Systems
HIV, transplant patients, chemotherapy etc. Have a harder time clearing HPV, even low-risk types. It may take 2 or more years if they clear it at all. Requires close monitoring.
The bottom line is that while most HPV is cleared by 2 years at the most, persistence past that point is possible. Careful follow-up and retesting is important.
Is HPV Gone Forever Once Cleared?
Unfortunately, HPV is not necessarily gone from your body for good once cleared. Many doctors believe the virus remains dormant or inactive inside your cells and tissues. It is controlled, not necessarily eliminated. At a later date, it can sometimes reactivate leading to:
– Recurrent genital warts
– Abnormal cervical cell changes to recur after previous normal pap tests
– Ability to transmit HPV to new partners, even years after initial clearance
It is not fully known what causes dormant HPV to reactivate. Potential triggers include:
– Weakened immune system from illness or stress
– Hormonal changes, like pregnancy
– Further exposure to HPV strains, through new sexual partners
– Advancing age
Doctors still advise women to continue cervical cancer screening even decades after HPV clearance. No one can guarantee with certainty that HPV will never flare up again at some point.
Can Your Body Become Immune to HPV After Clearing It?
Natural immunity after HPV infection does occur, but only partially protects against reinfection.
– You can develop antibodies against the specific HPV strains you encountered. This prevents exact reinfection with the same HPV type.
– However, there are over 40 sexually transmitted HPV types. You remain vulnerable to new infections from strains you never had.
– Even if you clear one high-risk HPV type that can cause cancer, you aren’t immune from cancer-causing infection with a different high-risk strain.
– Research shows people who clear an infection still have about a 30% chance of getting re-infected with the same HPV type.
The HPV vaccines provide broader protection by targeting multiple cancer-causing HPV types. Doctors may recommend vaccination for people under 26 after clearing an initial HPV infection to prevent new infections. Natural immunity plus vaccination offers the most robust HPV protection.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, there is no foolproof way for most people to definitively confirm if HPV is cleared from their body completely. Cell changes and warts going away provide some assurance the virus is gone. But you can never be certain it will not recur or lie dormant. Continued safe sex practices and monitoring with your doctor for long-term signs of clearance are important. While HPV often does clear from the body in 1-2 years, the virus may still linger at undetectably low levels. Further research is needed to better understand HPV dormancy and reactivation. In the meantime, prevention through safer sex and vaccination offers the best protection against both new HPV infections and potential recurrence.