[Question #13619] Undetectable HPV likelihood
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3 days ago
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Hello,
I have a question about STD and I want to hear the answer
from a professional instead of Chat GPT.
I want to
know how common (or likely) it is for HPV to stay undetectable for over a decade
and show on exams during chemotherapy.
My wife believes that she was contaminated with cervical HPV
in 2010. All of her yearly pap smear
test’s results before 2021 were negative. In 2021, while she was undergoing chemotherapy, she tested positive for
HPV. After chemotherapy, her tests results were negative again.
I understand
that it may be technically possible for the HPV virus to remain undetectable
for over a decade, but I want to know how likely it is for this to happen.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
2 days ago
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Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question.
No numerical data exist on the exact frequency of delayed detection of HPV, it is very common and probably explains your wife's situation. In most societies and countries around the globe, up to 90% of sexually active people become infected with genital HPV. Most infections become inactive (dormant) and cannot be detected for many years. However, reactivation is quite common and can occur after 5, 10, 20 or more years. In fact, this explains most abnormal Pap smears in women age 30 or older. Most HPV reactivations occur in people without immune deficiency, chemotherapy, etc, but these factors increase the chance of reactivation.
Probably this is the situation for your wife. It's good to hear that her HPV test again became negative. However, she should continue to follow standard Pap smear guidelines and her doctor's advice, which will protect her from having a serious health problem from HPV.
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
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