HPV in non monogamous relationship

[JesRica]

I had my first HPV test in 2013 and test positive. Immediately following that I had a colposcopy and a LEEP. Ever since then I've had tests every 3-6 months, which have all been clear.
I began being sexual active again last May with a partner who is sexually active with someone else (for many years now). I have been tested 3 times since and have just received a positive result for HPV.  My partner does not think his other partner has HPV as she has never mentioned it before. It is possible that she may be sleeping with someone else but we don't know.

All that background leads to my question- did my HPV just pop back up after nearly 3 years of being clear? Or is it possible she gave it to him during the past year and he gave it to me in the past 6 months (since my test were clear before then with him)?

[veryworried420]

The odds are always better that a new positive test result or newly emerged warts are from a recent encounter than a past one from years ago.

BTW, the term clearance does not mean your body removed the virus. The medical community thinks that the virus never leaves the body. It just means you may not be infectious again.

[cris01us]

Unfortunately HPV can be carried for years before it emerges.  Meaning that a person could have a partner, break up, get a new partner, be with that new partner for years and give them HPV (from the last partner) and it might not appear until years later.  It makes a lot of people think their partner isn't being true to them in this way.  In regards to clearance, there is some literature out there that indicates also that numerous strains of HPV (there are around 100 now) can clear the body on their own by 2 years (faster if one takes on a healthy life style).