Question: Am I cured of HPV since I had treatment?
I had a LEEP a few weeks ago because of abnormal cells on my cervix. My doctor said it was because of HPV. Since I was treated and the cells were removed, does this mean that I no longer have HPV?
Answer: Treatment for cervical dysplasia, such as a LEEP procedure, only treats the symptoms of HPV, not the virus itself. Abnormal, pre-cancerous cells are a product or symptom of HPV, so treatment has no bearing on the virus itself. Simply put, there is no medical cure for HPV. The good news is that 90% of people with a healthy immune system will clear the virus within two years of becoming infected. Smokers or those with suppressed immune systems may need to wait longer. HPV usually resolves itself without causing any adverse health problems.
In your case, you have to be very careful to adhere to your doctor's follow-up recommendations after having a LEEP. This could mean having frequent cervical exams and/or cervical biopsies. It is possible for cervical dysplasia to return after treatment, so it is vital to stay on top of your cervical health by having regular cervical exams.
If you are 26 or under, you may want to consider having the HPV vaccine. While it won't treat HPV, it will protect you against other strains of the virus that you may not be infected with that are associated with cervical cancer and other types of cancer.
