The question you ask is one that is still debated by experts. Restated, it is, "Once a HPV infection (warts or on Pap smear) goes away (with or without treatment) is the infection cured? The possibilities being that the person cured their own HPV infection or it just became somehow latent and therefore undetectable. I favor the former, that the infection is indeed cured. If it was still there (i.e. "latent"), it should be detectable and the fact is it is not. So, in answer to your question of is the case that "once you've got it, you've got it for life", our answer is no. If an infection goes away (treated or by itself) and is not detectable after 3-6 months, then we both feel that the infection is no longer present and that persons need not worry about the possibility of transmitting to partners. As for disclosure, different persons use different criteria. If the criterion is do you have an STD, the answer is no. If the question is HAVE you ever had an STD, then the answer is yes. Remember however that, whether they know it or not 85% of sexually active women and likely a similar proportion of men have had HPV (is ignorance bliss?). Within a year of starting to have sex, several studies show that about half of women have acquired HPV (again, whether they know it or not),
As for your question regarding strain dependent immunity, the data from the HPV vaccine studies indicate that immunity is strain dependent so that indeed, a person who has gotten one type of HPV can get others.
Hopefully this information will help you to figure out how to deal with the disclosure issue. From what I have heard from you, there is little to indicate that you are any more likely than anyone else to have HPV at this time. EWH
No, many, perhaps most abnormal Paps are NOT due to HPV. The more abnormal the Pap, the more likely HPV is to be presnet. Even if abnormality is present, most of these infections clear themselves.
I think that statement, as well as the data that most peole do or have had HPV should suffice (refer them to a website) EWH
Yes Dr. Hook, ignorance is bliss. Does an abnormal pap automatically indicate high risk hpv?
And because there is continued debate, what else could I say to a new partner other than I was in a recent relationship with someone that had hpv and her last pap came back normal?