Genital Warts... cleared by the immune system?

Question

Okay, so I'm wondering if the genital warts virus can be eradicated by the immune system over time like the other hpv infections, or if it's surpressed by the immune system? This is a little confusing because information about this seems to be a little contradictory. For instance, the CDC website says that 90 percent of HPV infections are cleared by the by the immune system, but on the page for "HPV and men" it doesn't mention this information. Doing a web search also brings up contradictory information. Some people say it can, others are saying that this type of hpv cant. Can anyone give an answer? I searched through the forum and can't find any information on this.

DasKapital · Accepted Answer

I would suggest you go to the STD Expert forum moderated by Dr. Handsfield and Dr. Hook and do some searching on genital warts.  The overwhelming proportion of recent evidence suggests that HPV 6 and 11 (the two most common wart causing strains of HPV) not only clear just like the cancer causing strains, but they probably clear faster.  In short, the genital wart causing strains of HPV clear from your system just as much as the other strains.  This means that, in time, you will have no more warts, they will not come back, and you are not contagious.  Although there are different benchmarks for when this happens, the generally cited statistic is that 90% of HPV infections, regardless of strain, clear within 2 years.  I saw an article somewhere that said that 90% of wart-causing infections cleared from a sample within 9 months.  It's a little bit fuzzy as to when it actually happens, but almost all experts agree, HPV is transient and your immune system clears it.

From what I've seen on the Expert forums and what I've heard from my own doctors, if you are clear of genital warts, and have no new warts appear in a six month period (this is arbitrary, but is commonly cited), it is unlikely you will have any more, and you are no longer contagious.  Like I said though, check the Expert forum.  I'm not a doctor.  But a lot of what I've said here is exactly what I've read from Dr. HHH.

fixme2013 · Answer

I had a wart 5 years ago. Used aldera. The wart cream and haven't seem it again. Maybe Im lucky but yes it goes away and after 2 years of not having it consider yourself cleared. I told my partners and they still have sex with me. Just be honest. And yes you will be cured. Just have faith and believe . God bless

kittybite · Answer

I contracted the wart virus from being raped and I have had it for 5 years now. I got symptoms after 6 months then the warts went away and three years later they came back and are worse and annoying to get rid of. To answer your question, once you have Hpv you will have it for the rest of your like and will always be contagious. It is a virus that you cannot kill or get rid of.

justinb25 · Answer

So if I'm understanding this correctly, it is possible for the immune system to clear the genital warts virus from our bodies over a period of time - but just like the other hpv infections, it's possible to be transmitted if it's asymptomatic (because there's no way of telling if it's been eradicated or if it's surpressed)?

kdaily · Answer

there are a lot of grey areas regardin HPV it is known that if you eat healthy, exercise take vitamins ect. you can clear the infection with no problem.... Warts are a bit more complex you can clear the infection but given the fact that warts do spread on contact you can technically spread the infection (not severe) but it does happen.

Genital Warts... cleared by the immune system?

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