Can the human body clear a HPV infection copletely?

Submitted by Terradubia t3_10294px in askscience

HPV can cause genital warts for example. Although these symptoms can vanish, I wanted to ask, whether the human body can get rid of HPV, so that it is not detectable anymore. On the internet some sources state that the virus can be cleared completely, while others state that it remains in the body for life.

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vt2022cam t1_j2s0enq wrote

Your body can clear it over time and you should get checked yearly. Also, the HPV vaccine protects against over 9 strains that cause warts or ones that can rarely lead to cancers. Get the vaccine, it’ll help prevent other strains.

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Wdl314 t1_j2sy6br wrote

Totally support getting the HPV vaccine! Doesn’t the currently licensed vaccine protect against 9 strains though, not 20+?

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vt2022cam t1_j2szt5r wrote

You’re right- up to nine. It’s likely to protect against more but the clinical trials aren’t worth paying for at this point.

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Wdl314 t1_j2un0ap wrote

I work in vaccine research and I’m happy to say that we have many large scale HPV vaccine studies happening all the time around the world. The trials are still receiving funding, especially phase 4 to optimize the dosing schedule.

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chimpfunkz t1_j2uts4g wrote

There are hpv vaccines in various stages of trials, all the way to 24 valent vaccines

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[deleted] t1_j2tb1et wrote

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Skootypuff_ t1_j2tpskz wrote

Especially the cancers not advertised (ie not cervical cancer).

The same thing happened to a family member. HPV was dormant in her body for ~20 years. Found a lump on a lymph node that wasn't going away, turns out it was cancer. There were a few tumors in and around her neck, lost her thyroid too, but at least we didn't lose her. During her treatment is when we found out that it can be dormant in your body and that people can be carriers with no symptoms.

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Washburne221 t1_j2v0kkd wrote

Got mine when I was 16. Great for peace of mind and not giving people cancer. All young men should get vaxxed.

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[deleted] t1_j2v6caa wrote

Not just giving. HPV causes throat cancer in men.

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Darth_Face2021 t1_j2w0k5e wrote

And penile and anal cancers, though my understanding is they are rarer than throat cancers.

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[deleted] t1_j2sydoa wrote

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vt2022cam t1_j2szjvb wrote

The vaccine is recommended for adults in the US. Up to 40 years old. LBGT in particular over 25.

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AnAquaticOwl t1_j2u2p9u wrote

Adult in the US here. I tried to get the vaccine a few years ago but was told I can't because for the reasons the previous poster mentioned (I'm 34 now, was probably around 31 or so then)

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nerdsports t1_j2u5o91 wrote

This is not correct at all. Someone told you wrong, unless there are other circumstances not disclosed. It’s up to age 46. I’m a bit over 40 now and so is my partner. She just got hers last year and is almost at the age of the upper limit.

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Jess_the_Siren t1_j2uqlfs wrote

They upped the age a few years ago bc I was told I was too old at 26 but somehow now at 37 I'm eligible

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ThrobbingWetHole t1_j2vdlqc wrote

Are you guys swingers or have an open relationship? Why would she get the vaccine if she’s only sleeping with you?

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chimpfunkz t1_j2uu0c0 wrote

Relatively recently, gardasil (the vaccine most people think of) was approved for people up to the age of 45.

Of course it's only really important pre exposure, but you should still go and get it

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[deleted] t1_j2t03e1 wrote

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Alwayssunnyinarizona t1_j2tho8n wrote

There is no harm in getting vaccinated while sexually active. No need to abstain. It may even be helpful in clearing an active infection.

It is likely that someone previously infected with HPV will still get some residual benefit from vaccination, even if he or she has already been infected with one or more of the HPV types included in the vaccines.

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But the vaccine also offers some protection for HPV-positive women, reducing cervical lesions by 17% and genital warts by 35%.

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feastorfashion t1_j2ttre2 wrote

It’s also good to remember that HPV causes all warts and can be spread through non sexual skin to skin contact. Abstaining does not fully protect someone from HPV.

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LifeRips2020 t1_j2udkl6 wrote

Yes but abstaining protects someone from the strands of hpv that cause genital warts, cervical cancer, oral cancer and throat cancer. The only hpv that spreads through skin to skin contact would be the warts that appear on your feet or hands.

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SunflowerRenaissance t1_j2vi2uo wrote

>Get the vaccine, it’ll help prevent other strains.

Do you have a source for this? Everything I've read says the vaccines only prevent specific strains.

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vt2022cam t1_j2wj3rs wrote

It was designed for 4 strains but apparently provoked an immune response against 5 other strains. https://www.cancer.gov/types/cervical/research/gardasil9-prevents-more-hpv-types

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SunflowerRenaissance t1_j2wqp0w wrote

I see. Your wording seemed to suggest it prevented more than the 9 the literature currently says. My point in asking for the source is because there are over 150 strains and 14 of them that often cause cancer. The Gardisil9 will only help prevent 9. It doesn't provide protection against any of the others, correct?

https://www.hpv.org.nz/about-hpv/hpv-strains

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vt2022cam t1_j2wsf9e wrote

It protects against the 2 (16 & 18) that cause 90% of the cancers and a couple of the other strains that cause cancer as well as some that cause warts. They haven’t bothered to pay for clinical trials on the other 140 known strains but most of these are not likely to lead to cancer, and theirs no point in wasting money on clinical trials for strains that don’t have a medical necessity. But it is likely to block other strains, they just haven’t had and likely won’t have clinical trials to prove it.

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party_benson t1_j2uvocm wrote

Any idea how to get it if you have Kaiser?

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Washburne221 t1_j2v0uyr wrote

Yeah, just call your primary doc's office and say you want it. They will schedule 2 appts for the shots. You don't even need parents permission if you are under 18.

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sharksnut t1_j2vb98m wrote

>Get the vaccine, it’ll help prevent other strains.

Gardasil-9 et al are genetic vaccines that do absolutely nothing against strains other than the 9 specific targeted vaccines

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DooDooSlinger t1_j2yurlo wrote

What are you calling a genetic vaccine? It uses recombinant proteins, and there is some amount of cross protection for other strains although certainly not immunity.

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RaspberryTwilight t1_j2vnba0 wrote

Yes, but when it is not detectable in your body anymore, you never know if it really cleared or went dormant, so you still have to get checked. If it's dormant, then it is basically waiting for an opportunity and can become active again, starting cellular changes again when your immune system is suppressed (for example due to pregnancy or vaginal dysbiosis).

There are some studies that say estrogen and lactobacilli might be involved in the process, but there is no consensus as high levels of estrogen seem to reactivate the virus but estrogen also promotes lactobacilli which slows down the progression of the disease.

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Stop_drop_nTwerk t1_j2vu86e wrote

Get regular check ups. Last I knew there are no tests for men, so it's always best to be proactive for your own sake.

Most strains do resolve on their own in time. Your OB might want you to come by more frequently (like every 6 months or so) to check it out.

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