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Should you get vaccinated for HPV if you already have it?
Yes. Even if you already have one strain of HPV , you could still benefit from the vaccine because it can protect you from other strains that you don’t yet have. However, none of the vaccines can treat an existing HPV infection.
Can HPV vaccine prevent reactivation?
HPV vaccines prevent infection by inducing antibodies that block viral entry, and such antibodies would likely not prevent reactivation.
Can you test positive for HPV if it is dormant?
In extreme cases, HPV may lay dormant in the body for many years or even decades. During this time, the virus is always reproducing within cells, and it can spread even if there are no symptoms. This is also why it’s possible to test positive for HPV even if it has been dormant for years.
What can reactivate HPV?
What is the cause of reactivation? Among immunosuppressed individuals, oncogenic HPV present for many years at very low levels may be responsible for the high rate of HPV-related disease. The high rate of disease among these individuals may result from reactivation of low-level persistent HPV as immunity wanes [13].
Can HPV be dormant for years and still test positive?
This is also why it’s possible to test positive for HPV even if it has been dormant for years. Getting tested is crucial because it’s possible to transmit HPV from one partner to all partners for a decade or more.
Should you test for HPV in young adults?
(And even then there can be “oops” occurrences). Because of its overwhelming prevalence, the current recommendation is not to test for HPV infection in young adults (under the age of 30). Those who have persistent viral infections are a small minority of women who are then at risk for cervical cancer.
How long can HPV lay dormant in the body?
In extreme cases, HPV may lay dormant in the body for many years or even decades. During this time, the virus is always reproducing within cells, and it can spread even if there are no symptoms.
What is the difference between Pap test and HPV test?
The Pap test can detect cell changes in the cervix before they turn into cancer. The HPV test looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes. Screening can detect most, but not all, cervical cancers at an early, treatable stage.