latent HPV

[mannyish]

I had genital warts as a young girl (now age 50)  For some reason, when I had last smear I asked to be tested for HPV.  It came back positive for HPV 42.  Have been married for thirty years.  Could the virus be latent but detectable?  Test was HPV DNA PCR    If it is latent is there something wrong with my immunity

[gracefromHHP]

there are over 130 different types of hpv. Of those, about 30 commonly infect the genital area. some of those cause obvious genital warts while others of those cause infections on your cervix.  the genital warts you had many years ago are not the cause of your abnormal pap now!  

Most of us "clear" hpv from our body over 2 years. Usually it's the high risk types of hpv that don't clear during that time and they can persist for 10, 20 or more years.  the longer you have a hpv infection in your body, the more likely it is to cause you obvious cervical cell changes which in time can progress to cervical cancer.  typically we are not tested for hpv with our pap tests unless they come back abnormal.

was your pap test also abnormal or had your gyn just ordered a general hpv screening on you so that they knew how often they should recommend you continue to get pap testing done at this point in your life?

grace

[Healthadvisory]

Once you have hpv, you will always have it. Hpv after a few years may never come back unless its triggered. some people have HPv and never knew they ever had it.  Its a very common STD. Hpv lays dormant in the body.
answer to your question  Latent but detectable? Yes.