I've heard conflicting stories about HPV...?

Question

I've read that most people's immune systems fight off the HPV virus on their own. I've also read that the virus stays in your body for life and you will never get rid of it. WHICH IS TRUE??

I just read this on Yahoo health, which is provided by MayoClinic: There's no cure for HPV infection. "In most cases, your immune system rids your body of the virus, and warts often go away without treatment."

So where are you people who say it stays forever getting your information? It sounds to me like the virus goes away in most cases if you have a good immune system.

Answer 1

Most people CAN get rid of the virus. Their bodies can basically "fight off the virus".

However, there is no "cure" for HPV. When most people think of a cure they think of drugs, therapy, or other remedies to get rid of the virus. Since there are no drugs to get rid of the virus there is technically no "cure".

Since it is a virus though, some people will ALWAYS have it. Their bodies are unable to get rid of the virus. There are NO cures for viruses (herpes, HPV, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, measles, small pox, etc.)

Also, there is no test for men to detect whether or not they have HPV, or whether or not their bodies have been able to "fight it off". It's pretty much impossible for a man to know if he has the virus, unless he develops warts himself. And, not everyone with HPV develops genital warts. This is why the virus is SO common. Most people are unaware they have HPV and end up spreading it around unknowingly.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm#cure
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/sexual-health/std/genital-warts.htm

Answer 2

Every BODY is different. Most people are carriers of HPV and don't even know it. There is no test for men to know if they ar carriers or not.

The warts are treated just like small pox...the chicken pox goes away but the virus stays in your body forever. Not technically a bad thing. Your body's immune system surpresses and keeps it dormant. Therefore not having re-occurances.
Only 25% of people have re-occurances and some not at all.
There is no Medical Fact that states that you can get rid of the virus therefore only medically speaking they can say that there is no cure and your body just deals with it.


Good luck!

Answer 3

HPV is the number one cause of cervical cancer. This virus can stay hidden in cells until they become activated by a cold, another virus, a change in the weather.. etc. No one really knows exactly what causes outbreaks. But most people have a healthy enough immune system that when exposed to the virus, nothing happens. Anyone in the age range of 12-28 (or so) should be vaccinated to prevent cervical cancer, which is ONLY detectable with yearly pap smears.

Answer 4

There are many different strains of HPV. The strains associated with genital warts tend to clear quickly. The strains that are associated with cervical cancer tend not to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_papillomavirus

There is still a lot of research on HPV, and there is still much to learn

Answer 5

If you have a strong immune system, it can fight off the side effects, however, it will not fight off the infection. If you think you may have it you should see your doctor ASAP.
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/conditions/stds/hpv-genital-warts/?msc=S214808
GO TO THIS WEBSITE TO FIND OUT MORE!!

Answer 6

I think both?

You can fight it off so that it won't spread or cause cancer, but it lays dormant in your system.

Answer 7

Yes you can fight off the symptoms but not the virus it stays in ur skin for rest of your life.

Answer 8

Should be able to find all your answers in the link below!

Answer 9

Of the many types of HPV, types 6 and 11 produce visible genital warts. Usually, they eventually disappear without treatment. This is the type of virus that people can get over on their own. Other HPV types, such as 16 and 18, usually do not produce visible genital warts. However, they are associated with precancerous and cancerous changes to the cervix. These are the types of HPV that stick with you.

Genital warts caused by the most common types of HPV often go away on their own without treatment. After you are diagnosed, if you do not have symptoms or cosmetic concerns, you may observe your condition without using treatment. This is called watchful waiting.

Experts sometimes differ on how to treat the condition because genital warts often go away without treatment and because treatment does not eliminate the HPV infection.

Treatment will depend on:

The number of warts and their size and location.
Any problems the warts are causing.
The side effects and costs of treatment.
Your health professional's skill in treating warts.
Your preferences.

Even if you are treated to remove visible warts or your warts go away without treatment, the HPV infection is not cured; it remains in your body's cells.

See viruses stay with you always, they infect by slightly mixing in their RNA or DNA with the host DNA which slightly alters the cells. Viruses cannot reproduce without using a host cell. Therefore, when a new cell is created from the infected cell the virus spreads into your body. This is why the virus stays in your cells.

I hope that information helps.
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My information comes from my college Microbiology book. An MLT is a Medical Laboratory Technician. We deal with bacteria and viruses all day long. Thats are job. I will quote from my book called Microbiology with diseases by taxonomy - second edition.
Human Papilloma Virus- in the class of Papillomavirus Infections:

"Papillomaviruses cause Papillomas, which are benign growths of the epithelium of the skin or mucous membranes commonly known as warts. Papillomas form on many body surfaces, but are most often found on the fingers or toes (seed warts); deep in the soles of the feet (plantar warts); on the trunk, face, elbow, or knees (flat warts); or on the external genitalia (genital warts). Genital warts range in size from almost undetectable small bumps to giant, cauliflower-like growths called condylomata acuminata. Over 40 varieties of papillomaviruses cause warts in humans.

"Although warts are often painful and unsightly, genital warts are even more distressing because of their association with an increased risk of cancer. Papillomaviruses of genital warts precipitate anal, vaginal, penile, and oral cancers, as well as nearly all cerviacal cancer. Papillomavirus infections also double the risk of developing head and neck cancer and increase the risk of cancer in the tonsils fourteen-fold.

"Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Papillomavirus Infections
Pappillomaviruses are transmitted via direct contact and, because they are stable outside the body, via fomites. They can also be spread from one location to another on a given person by a process called autoinoculation. Viruses that cause genital warts invade the skin and mucous membranes of the penis(particularly when it is uncircumcised), vagina, and anus during sexual intercourse. The incubation time from infection to the development of the wart usually is 3-4 months. Genital warts are now the most common sexually transmitted disease. Over 500,000 new cases are reported each year in the United States, most among young adults.

"Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of Papillomavirus Infections
Diagnosis of warts is usually a simple matter of observation, though only DNA probes can elucidate the exasct strain of papillomavirus involved. Warts usually regress over time as the cellular immune system recognizes and attacks virally with some warts may necessitate removing infected tissue via surgery, freezing, cauterization(burning), laser, or the use of caustic chemicals. THESE TECHNIQUES ARE NOT ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY BECAUSE VIRUSES MAY REMAIN LATENT IN NEIGHBORING TISSUE AND PRODUCE NEW WARTS AT A LATER TIME. Laser surgery has the added risk of causing viruses to become airborne; some physicians have developed warts in their noses after inhaling airborne viruses during laser treatment.
Effective treatment of cancers caused by papillomavirusees often depends on early diagnosis resultinng from thorough inspection of the genitalia in both sexes, and in women by a Papanicolaou(Pap) Smear to screen for cervical cancer. Treatment involves radiation or chemical therapy directed against reproducing tumor cells. Advanced cases of genital cancer necessitate removal of the entire diseased organ.
Prevention of most types of warts is difficult, but prevention of genital warts is possible by abstinence or mutual monogamy. Using recombinant DNA techniques, scientists have created a vaccine that successfully prevents infection of women by the most common strains of sexually transmitted papillomaviruses, including the strains that cause most cervical cancers. Researchers are in the last phase of safety and efficacy testing for the vaccine, which must be administered to children before they become sexually active.
The evidence for the effectivedness of condoms in preventing the spread of genital wart viruses is equivocal- one study suggests that condoms reduce the risk of acquiring gential warts by 25% -50%, whereas other studies have revealed no decrease in the acquisition of warts by condom users or their partners. In 2002, researchers found that women whose sexual partners are circumcised, the worldwide incidence of cervical cancer would be reduced at least 43%."

I hope that is proof enough that viruses stay with you. Bring something else up about viruses- I know lots! And can go on all day. Sorry to go all technicle on you, but I had no choice- you said I gave you bad knowledge. I highly doubt you can refute what a college textbook says.

Answer 10

you never get rid of it!!