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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Alwayssunnyinarizona t1_j2tho8n wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,272,037)

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.

...

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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Skootypuff_ t1_j2tpskz wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,272,522)

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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AnAquaticOwl t1_j2u2p9u wrote

Replying to vt2022cam (#1,272,010)

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

Replying to AnAquaticOwl (#1,273,884)

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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LifeRips2020 t1_j2udkl6 wrote

Replying to feastorfashion (#1,273,452)

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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Wdl314 t1_j2un0ap wrote

Replying to vt2022cam (#1,272,027)

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_j2uu0c0 wrote

Replying to AnAquaticOwl (#1,273,884)

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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sharksnut t1_j2vb98m wrote

Replying to vt2022cam (#1,270,463)

>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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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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vt2022cam t1_j2wsf9e wrote

Replying to SunflowerRenaissance (#1,278,456)

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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