Genital HPV Infections

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Most genital HPV infections are transient and asymptomatic.Approximately 70% of women with HPV infections become
HPV DNA negative within  one year, and as many as  91% of them become HPV  DNA negative within two  years.10, 16, 21, 22
The median duration of new infections is typically eight months.10 HPV 16 infections tend to persist longer than infection with other HPV types, but most HPV 16 infections become undetectable within two years.10The gradual development of
an effective immune response is thought to be the likely
mechanism for HPV DNA clearance.4 However, it is also possible that the virus remains in a non-detectable dormant state and then reactivates many years later. This may explain why HPV may be newly detected in some older women who have been in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship.1Many women with transient HPV infections may develop atypical

squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) or low-grade squamous intraepithelial
lesions (LSIL), as detected on a Pap test. These are mild cytologic abnormalities that represent the cytopathic effect caused by HPV infection, and they may spontaneously regress.Only about 10% of women infected with HPV develop persistent HPV infections.23  Women with persistent high-risk HPV infection are at greatest
risk for developing high-grade cervical cancer precursors and cancer. The risk of developing moderate to severe dysplasia,
or grades 2 or 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2, 3) lesions, for women with persistent high-risk HPV infection is not well defined. However, the risk is greater than that of women whose infections clear spontaneously.24, 25   Currently, there are no data available on the natural history  of HPV infection in men.

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