Do you have HPV for life?

It can take many years for the HPV virus to become active, and when it does, it usually only lasts a short time. In most cases, the infection is cleared by the body in around 1-2 years. 

Most HPV infections clear up on their own and don’t cause any problems. Researchers now think that when the HPV clears up, it can remain inactive in your body unless your immune system is later compromised in some way, in which case, the HPV may become active again. When the HPV is inactive, it appears that it is not passed on to a partner.