What are my risks of getting HPV if...

I recently started dating a woman who was diagnosed with high risk HPV (not the genital wart kind). The last test she had did not show that she was still positive for HPV. Is it still possible for her to transmit this to me if we engage in sexual activity? Also, if it can still be transmitted can it happen through oral sex, or manual contact with the vagina?

Another way of asking the questions is that once someone has HPV do they always have it in their system and is it always infectious?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The topic of HPV and genital warts is a complex one.  I will try to provide some facts.  For addition information on this most common of STDs, I would suggest search for other HPV- and wart-related Q&A on this site, as well seeking addition information on sites such as the American Social health Association web-site (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on the Board of ASHA)..

Now, on to HPV.  HPV is the most commonly acquired STD.  More is known about HPV in women than men, possible in part because women not uncommonly suffer the complications of HPV (abnormal PAP smears, cervical cancer) while men rarely do.  Over 85% of sexually active women will have HPV infection at some time in their lives.  In some HPV will cause genital warts, in others it will not cause warts but may lead to changes in PAP smears.  In nearly everyone who gets HPV, warts or otherwise, the infections will resolve by themselves without therapy in 8-10 months.  Once the infections are resolved, they do not seem to recur but re-infection can occur.  In a very small minority of women, HPV infection can persist and lead to the pre-cancerous lesions that PAP smears detect and which can then be treated.  With this as background, I think if she has tested negative following therapy, you can assume that she was no longer infected.  Hope this helps.  EWH

[smby76]

So, if I am reading your answer correctly just because someone was diagnosed with high risk hpv does not mean they will have it in their system the rest of their life?   My understanding is that once they test negative that means they do not have it in their system and it is not contagious, is that correct? (This assumes the test was accurate)

Thanks for your assistance!

Steve

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The majority of HPV infections, high risk or otherwise, go away in the 6-12 months following infections without treatment of any intervention whatsoever.  Most of the remainder ultimately resolve as well.  In general if a person resolves an HPV infection, it is gone and the person is no longer infectious to others.  

The is one major caveat however- no test is perfect.  Thus a test may have missed the infection if it was there.  That said, nearly everyone has HPV, thus should it be there, the odds of it negatively impacting your or any of your partners health is quite low.  EWH