What happens if you have multiple strains of HPV?

According to an article published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, women infected with multiple types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) have a significantly greater risk of developing cervical cancer than those infected with just one type of HPV.

Can you have multiple HPV strains?

A person can be infected with more than one HPV strain at a time.

Can you have multiple HPV infections?

We found that 105 (59%) of the HPV-positive patients had multiple HPV infections (Table 2).

How many strains of HPV can a person have?

There are about 14 high-risk HPV types including HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68. Two of these, HPV16 and HPV18, are responsible for most HPV-related cancers.

Can other strains of HPV cause cancer?

High-risk HPV types

Other types of HPV are called “high-risk” because they can cause cancer. Doctors worry more about the cell changes and pre-cancers linked to these types, because they're more likely to grow into cancers over time. Common high-risk HPV types include HPV 16 and 18.

What is HPV and how can you protect yourself from it? - Emma Bryce

What happens if HPV doesn't go away in 2 years?

In most cases (9 out of 10), HPV goes away on its own within two years without health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer.

Do I need a colposcopy if I have HPV?

If you test positive for HPV 16/18, you will need to have a colposcopy. If you test positive for HPV (but did not have genotyping performed or had genotyping and tested negative for 16/18), you will likely have a colposcopy.

Does HPV 6 and 11 go away?

HPV types 6 and 11, which are linked to genital warts, tend to grow for about 6 months, then stabilize. Sometimes, visible genital warts go away without treatment. If you need treatment, your doctor can prescribe a cream that you can use at home.

How long does it take for HPV to cause abnormal cells?

In fact, once cells in the cervix begin to undergo abnormal changes, it can take several years for the cells to grow into invasive cervical cancer. Many women experience precancerous changes in the cervix in their 20s and 30s, though the average woman with cervical cancer is diagnosed in her 50s.

Is HPV 16 or 18 worse?

Conclusion. Cervical cancer patients infected with HPV 18 had worse survival compared with cervical cancer patients with HPV 16 infection.

Can you get HPV 16 twice?

Unfortunately, we don't have a definite answer to this question. In theory, once you have been infected with HPV you should be immune to that type and should not be reinfected. However, studies have shown that natural immunity to HPV is poor and you can be reinfected with the same virus type.

Can HPV strains mutate?

HPV becomes a problem when you are infected by a “high risk” strain of the virus. These are types of HPV which can cause cells to mutate and become cancerous.

What is high risk HPV?

(hy-risk …) A type of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause cervical cancer and other types of cancer, such as cancers of the anus, vagina, vulva, penis, and oropharynx. Chronic infection with high-risk HPV can lead to cell changes that, if not treated, may become cancer. Also called high-risk human papillomavirus.

How do I know if I have high risk HPV?

A Pap test involves checking the cells for precancerous changes. An HPV test looks for the DNA of the virus. A doctor may only order this test if a person likely has a high risk infection. The results of both a Pap test and an HPV test give the doctor a clearer impression of a person's cervical cancer risk.

Can you find out which strain of HPV you have?

HPV testing is only available for women, and it can determine if HPV is present. If present, the test can determine whether the HPV is a low- or a high-risk type. The HPV test isn't recommended as routine screening for women under the age of 30. This is because many women will have some strain of HPV by that age.

How do you get rid of chronic HPV?

What happens if you test positive for HPV twice?

Testing positive for HPV more than once

If you test positive for high-risk HPV but you don't have cell changes on your cervix, you'll be asked to come back for a cervical screening in one year. If you test positive for HPV three times in a row you'll be invited to a colposcopy.

Why does my HPV keep coming back?

The most common reason for cell changes to come back would be your immune system not getting rid of high-risk HPV. We don't yet know why some people can clear HPV and others can't.

How often should I get a Pap smear if I have HPV?

every 5 years with high-risk HPV testing alone. every 5 years with Pap and high-risk HPV cotesting. every 3 years with a Pap test alone.

Does HPV go away after LEEP?

Although LEEP does not completely eradicate HPV infection, our results indicate that most HR-HPV infections are cleared after LEEP with negative margins. The clearance rate is increasing gradually after surgery. Our persistence rate was 40.9 % at 6 months, 20 % at 12 months and 11.8 % at 18 months.

Do I need to tell future partners about HPV?

You can have HPV for a long time without ever knowing it. HPV can stay in the body for 10-20 years. Finding out you have HPV doesn't mean you or your partner have been unfaithful. It's your decision whether or not to tell your partner you have HPV.

Can you clear HPV after 30?

There is no cure for HPV, but 70% to 90% of infections are cleared by the immune system and become undetectable. HPV peaks in young women around age of sexual debut and declines in the late 20s and 30s. But women's risk for HPV is not over yet: There is sometimes a second peak around the age of menopause.

What happens if you have HPV for 3 years?

If you still have HPV after 3 years, you may need to have a colposcopy. You'll be asked to have a colposcopy. Information: HPV is a common virus and most people will get it at some point.

What is the next step after being diagnosed with HPV?

If you got a positive HPV test and your Pap test was abnormal, your doctor will probably follow up with a colposcopy. Try to see a physician who specializes in this procedure. During a colposcopy, your doctor will look more closely at the cervix, vagina or vulva with a special microscope called a colposcope.

Will I always test positive for HPV?

HPV spreads through sexual contact and is very common in young people — frequently, the test results will be positive. However, HPV infections often clear on their own within a year or two. Cervical changes that lead to cancer usually take several years — often 10 years or more — to develop.