[Question #10508] Likelihood of past infection coming back

22 months ago

Hello docs, thank you again for this service. I asked a few months ago about an exposure and have since become unconcerned. I am a 34 year old gay male and you’re right my lifestyle, especially when I was younger was more of a typical nature of gay men. I have been free of any issues for about 5 1/2 years. I have not passed it on to my parter who I was with for about two years or so. For the most part I forgot about the whole thing and went forward with my life. I am Newley single and I do have a question regarding late reoccurrence.When I was treated at the colorectal center, the doctor told me not to worry because 90% of people clear the virus, never to have another issue with it again. I have long since assumed I was apart of the 90%, and while still disclosing my situation to people I would like to have a intimate relationship with, assured potential partners that that the risk was unlikely/ low that they would get an warts infection from me. I will also say that the few times I have decided to engage in people I was not so serious about, I haven’t said anything.

Specific question 1) would you agree with my doctors statement that 90% of infections clear never to cause another problem, while unfortunately 10% of people still may get abnormal paps, reoccurring warts down the road. 2.)at this point it seems by reading some other post that it’s pretty unlikely I will get recurring warts and most people with long gone Hpv infections need not worry. Is this still the general consensus?

Thanks again

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

22 months ago

Welcome back to the forum. Thanks for your continued confidence in our services.

I agree that after 5 years, it is unlikely you'll have a recurrence of your previous HPV infection. However, you need to understand that some experts believe that all HPV infections persist indefinitely, at least with continued HPV DNA in infected tissues with a potential for reactivation

1,2) Your doctors' 90% estimate of "cleared" virus most likely reflects their prediction about clinically apparent reactivation and transmission potential; probably they would agree that many or most (nearly all?) HPV infections persist at a genetic level. There are no research data on the likelihood of recurrent warts and/or the potential for infecting a future partner, but a 10% estimate probably is about right. However, any future partner is very likely to have had HPV himself, and given your former sexual lifestyle you probably have had several more HPV infections that never caused warts and therefore you were not aware of. The particular infection you know about probably does not significantly elevate your odds of having reactivated infection or transmitting HPV to a partner. In any case, I don't see this as an important issue in your future health or that of your partners.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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22 months ago

Thank you doc for the clarification. I understand knowledge is evolving rapidly but would you agree this post has held up the test of time. ? https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-AND-CLEARANCE/show/1137032

The response to question 1-2.&3-6

It seems similar to the information presented here. Do you still hold similar views. Thanks for everything over the years!

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

22 months ago

Not only is that discussion "similar" to the info above -- it's a more detailed description of exactly what I intended to imply above. I'm happy with my statement all those years ago: it still reflects my understanding of HPV persistence, reactivation, etc.---
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22 months ago

Thank you doc, im going to apply your closing statement to my own life of that article: Bottom line: When all is said and done, your genital warts probably are gone once and for all; and in any case, will soon fade into a minor inconvenience. You shouldn't lose a lot of sleep about the low risk of long-term recurrences or other consequences. .

I always knew there was a small chance, but just did my best not to worry about it and why start now?

Final note: someone in one of the forms asked a “what’s a good hpv dating site?” and the response was, “any dating site,most everyone has hpv.”I thought that was funny!

Even my mother told me she had hpv type 18 years ago and she’s doing just fine.

Thank you for your service over the years!

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

22 months ago

Thanks for the thanks. I'm glad to have helped.---