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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Long HPV Can Be Dormant?

Hi, Been married 35 yrs together 37. Really, strongly feel that my husband has always been faithful. Although, we both had active sex lives prior to meeting each other. I need to know how long HPV can be dormant? I just received a phone call from my OBGYN that I have HPV?! Thank you.
Thu, 30 Jan 2014
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OBGYN,  's  Response
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
HPV can lie dormant for years !!
Even you would not have known if you would not have had a Pap smear.
You could have acquired it from your husband or from any of the other sexual partners that you had in the past.
There is no way of knowing from whom you acquired it.
It is very well possible that you acquired it from the relationships prior to your marriage.
Do not infer anything regarding your husband's fidelity from HPV infection.
Men are most often asymptomatic with regard to HPV.
Also, there is no particular screening test available to diagnose HPV infection in males, like the Pap test is present for females.
In short, you could have been asymptomatic all these years, without knowing it.
All the best.
Take care.
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How Long HPV Can Be Dormant?

Hello Thanks for writing to us with your health concern. HPV can lie dormant for years !! Even you would not have known if you would not have had a Pap smear. You could have acquired it from your husband or from any of the other sexual partners that you had in the past. There is no way of knowing from whom you acquired it. It is very well possible that you acquired it from the relationships prior to your marriage. Do not infer anything regarding your husband s fidelity from HPV infection. Men are most often asymptomatic with regard to HPV. Also, there is no particular screening test available to diagnose HPV infection in males, like the Pap test is present for females. In short, you could have been asymptomatic all these years, without knowing it. All the best. Take care.