Get Virtual Care
For Businesses
About Us
A member asked:
If you have hpv when are you contagious? are you contagious forever after catch it or are there times it isn't contagious. because i know it's with you for life once you get it. but it can go dormant.?
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Unfortunately, you can't tell if the infection has been in latent or not. Of course, if you have HPV lesion(s) then risk of transmission is very high. Fortunately, HPV infection often becomes dormant (latent) so HPV-infected people are not the true carriers. A majority of Americans above 30 years old have been exposed to HPV & that's why we do not advocate HPV vaccine beyond 26 years of age.
Answered 7/15/2023
0 views
Most HPV infections are eventually controlled by the immune system ("go dormant") over time and then are not frequently transmitted to sex partners. But this doesn't mean you should avoid sex. Everyone gets HPV anyway, usually a few times. It's more important to be vaccinated to prevent potentially harmful outcomes (warts, cancer) than to worry about catching it.
Answered 7/16/2023
0 views
Related Questions
A member asked:
When dormant high risk hpv is activated again (if I have an immune memory related to those viruses in my body) if I have sex with a healthy woman will she get that virus?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
If I have hpv that has caused genital warts and not found on a pap, can I ever get rid of it or will it always be dormant in my system?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
My boyfriend has a wart on his finger but it was not caused by genital warts, so is it contagious? Isn't it only genital warts that are caused by hpv?
8 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
I have HPV, my question is now i am contagious for life? will wait for your answer, thanks.
5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
People also searched for:
I am a male. How long can hpv remain dormant (i.e. not contagious) in my system before becoming active and contagious?
I've heard that hpv viruses can be dormant. If I had an hpv 6,11infection and did not get any genital warts even after1.5 years,will the dormant hpv virus reactivate in the future and Can hpv virus go from me to another woman and will she get g/warts?
I think I have a genital high risk hpv virus infection(dormant or active infection).(How common is genatal high risk hpv vires and how many people in the world have it?). I'm worried that the woman I'm going to marry in 6 years will get the virus?
Confused about HSV - even with no active sores, HSV can be transferred but dormant? Sounds like HPV, asymptomatic carriers pass virus and receiver won't get symptoms. Is that correct? I thought no lip sore meant sex is safe and no infection risk?
If I have hpv, should I abstain from sex with my husband until it's dormant? Do I have to wait until my pap smears are normal again to get pregnant?
Didn't find what you're looking for?
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
Ask your questionMore of what we treat
Download HealthTap
Video visit and message your doctor
