I changed some of my account info and for whatever reason, I can no longer see some of my previous questions that I submitted. Regardless, this is my 3rd question about HPV and a followup to [Question #6330] HPV Transmission after clearance.

background: 28 Female, I tested positive for HPV16 9 yrs ago w/ CIN1. I was told to wait it out a year and ended up clearing both HPV & CIN1 without treatment within ~13 months. I've since tested HPV negative on my past 3 pap/HPV co-tests and have also gotten vaccinated.  I have limited background in microbiology (bachelor's degree) so forgive some of the specific questions I have.

My previous question: I would like to know the likelihood of transmitting this strain of my virus (strain 16) given my personal circumstances.
Dr Hooks answer "The odds are against your experiencing a recurrence of your HPV or your transmission to others in the future... The data about reactivation that you have found refers to reactivation occurring within a few years of infection"

I read over this response again and have 2 clarifying questions.
1) Does Dr. Hook's above response mean generally unlikely or highly unlikely to transmit my past infection? It does not specify.

2) I would also like to know transmission odds for someone who's been HPV clear/negative for just 1-3 years instead of 9 years. For example, If one were to clear HPV & clear an abnormal pap and just get one or two negative HPV tests within 2 years, how likely are they to reactivate having recently cleared the infection? (assuming no pregnancy, major illness and not too old in age). I have my personal reasons for asking this that would be too complex to explain.

This will be my last HPV question on the forum.

Add-On : The reason I even asked my initial question (question 6332) is because I noted a couple of Dr. Hansfield's responses mentioning that no safe window for HPV contagiousness because it can reactivate periodically "sometimes as often as 20 - 50% of the time!"

I'm disappointed to see you returning for further, repetitive, speculative questions about what might occur years in the future.  Both Dr. Handsfield and I have answered to the best of our knowledge.  As Dr. Handsfield replied earlier, the fact that persons with HPV may experience reactivation in the future is relatively new data that continue to be a topic of research.  As I indicated, the data supporting his statement are based on observation of recurrences which occurred just several years following resolution of detectable HPV.  As I also indicated, our experience (in the absence of available scientific data) suggest that the likelihood of recurrence of detectable HPV diminishes over time. For these reasons we have (unsuccessfully) done our best to encourage you to not focus on these "what if" questions, to go forward with periodic testing and take it from there.  Clearly you are unable to do this.

In note that your "last question" was followed by an "add on".  I would encourage you to seek help in sorting out precisely why you have become so intently fixated on this now, 9 years after resolution of the infection you mentioned. 

As brief answers to your questions:

1.  Repetitive.  I cannot give you a numerical value regarding the likelihood of transmission.  These data do not exist.  I will not guess.

2.  Same answer.  From clinical experience I can tell you that the more negative tests and the longer the duration since resolution the less likely it is that you will recur or transmit a recurring infection to others.

I can certainly see your earlier, closed questions. If you cannot, I suggest you contact the site administrator.

finally, I must warn you that repetitive, speculative, anxiety-driven questions help out clients little and provide others with little useful information to apply to their own situations.  As a result, we reserve the right to close such threads without a formal answer and without refund of your posting fee.  Your current question falls into this realm.  I hope you will understand.  EWH

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I understand. Thank you for answering my questions.

I'm not asking you to guess, nor am I  asking for a numerical value, I'm more-so asking what your definition of likely vs unlikely is. Those are vague words for me.

I feel as though my second question was misinterpreted. For personal reasons, I would like to know likelihood of transmission upon having just cleared an infection, say 1-2 years after clearance. At this point, would it be likely to transmit? You note that likelihood of transmission decreases over time. How likely is transmission if someone has recently cleared an infection?

I'm not trying to repeat the question I'm just trying to indicate that I understand what you said "From clinical experience I can tell you that the more negative tests and the longer the duration since resolution the less likely it is that you will recur or transmit a recurring infection to others"
and i highly appreciate that response. I just dont think this answers my second question regarding liklihood of transmission upon initial clearance. I'm sorry I'm not trying to be disrespectful at all.

You are repeating your question.  Let me be clear:

1. There are no numerical data to tell you the likelihood that you will reactivate in the future. Much less, should you reactivate, there are no numerical data on the likelihood of transmission.  There are NO scientific data which provide any data on the per exposure risk for transmission of HPV.  I will not guess.  Personally I would not worry either although you clearly are.

2.  This question is also repetitive.  As I said above- "There are NO scientific data which provide any data on the per exposure risk for transmission of HPV."

EWH

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Thank you.

Is there anyway you can at least tell me if it's likely or unlikely to transmit upon viral clearance, even if one has only recently cleared the virus. By cleared I mean tested negative. I know youre saying there is no direct data, but do you at least have an intuition

I am very worried now. My understanding was that clearance (even very recently cleared HPV) was most likely not transmissible (although not gauranteed). But based on your answers it's clear to me that it's simply unknown and that it's a 50/50 chance... this is very worrisome to me. Can you at least confirm this comment?

This will be your final reply.  I will also ask you not to return with these repetitive, speculative questions.  The answers are not going to change.---