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genital warts clearance in older age women
Hi Drs.
First I would like to thank you very much for the information that you provide on the topics of genital warts and hpv. There is a lot of conflicting and confusing information out there and this site has been a tremendous help for me.
Some background:
I'm a female, age 51, in menopause, on HRT, very healthy, don't smoke or drink. I contracted genital warts a little less than 2 years ago, didn't seek treatment until about 10 months ago because I thought they (started as one, turned into several) were skin tags. After I started treatment I would keep getting new ones in different places, every week or so. Then they started to slow down. I was clear for about 4 and a half months and hoped that I was clear of the infection. However, I then discovered one wart, which was successfully treated. I've now been clear for a little over a month.
I've been doing A LOT of reading, both on this forum and scientific literature. I've seen the often cited statistic that about 90% of hpv infections clear within two years. However, it seems that this statistic comes from studies of young women. I've also read studies that seem to indicate that older age women (over 45) are more likely to have persistent hpv, both low and high-risk. I've also read that older women are "less likely to clear infection." i was hoping that, being that I've had this infection for nearly two years, I would be soon clearing my infection. My body does seem to be getting a handle on it. Does my age mean that my immune system will have a tougher time clearing my infection, and that my genital warts infection is at higher risk of persisting?
First I would like to thank you very much for the information that you provide on the topics of genital warts and hpv. There is a lot of conflicting and confusing information out there and this site has been a tremendous help for me.
Some background:
I'm a female, age 51, in menopause, on HRT, very healthy, don't smoke or drink. I contracted genital warts a little less than 2 years ago, didn't seek treatment until about 10 months ago because I thought they (started as one, turned into several) were skin tags. After I started treatment I would keep getting new ones in different places, every week or so. Then they started to slow down. I was clear for about 4 and a half months and hoped that I was clear of the infection. However, I then discovered one wart, which was successfully treated. I've now been clear for a little over a month.
I've been doing A LOT of reading, both on this forum and scientific literature. I've seen the often cited statistic that about 90% of hpv infections clear within two years. However, it seems that this statistic comes from studies of young women. I've also read studies that seem to indicate that older age women (over 45) are more likely to have persistent hpv, both low and high-risk. I've also read that older women are "less likely to clear infection." i was hoping that, being that I've had this infection for nearly two years, I would be soon clearing my infection. My body does seem to be getting a handle on it. Does my age mean that my immune system will have a tougher time clearing my infection, and that my genital warts infection is at higher risk of persisting?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for your clearly written and well stated questions. Before I try to address your major question, the issue of HPV clearance in somewhat older persons (I have trouble calling someone 45 or 50 "older" :)) a comment-
Are you sure that all of the skin lesions you have noted over the past few years were warts/HPV? The reason I ask is that for warts to appear continuously over a period of two years is a bit unusual unless something is being done which can spread them (like shaving over them). Skin tags are also common and I wonder if you might have had both.
Either way, in response to your questions, as you very accurately point out, when it comes to HPV/warts, age definitely matters, in several ways. We know that:
1. Most of the research on HPV has been done on younger women, adolescents and, in general women less than 30.
2. HPV is slower to resolve in "older" (over 30 in most studies) women than in in younger age groups.
3. The immune system is more active in younger persons. Vaccine response rates tend to be higher and the body's ability to immunologically control infections is a bit lower among older persons.
4. Thus the data on average duration to clearance is more applicable to women and it is logical to think that they may take a bit longer than the stated two year average to run their course in an older individual.
It sounds like your thoughts and approach are on target. I hope my comments have been helpful. EWH
Are you sure that all of the skin lesions you have noted over the past few years were warts/HPV? The reason I ask is that for warts to appear continuously over a period of two years is a bit unusual unless something is being done which can spread them (like shaving over them). Skin tags are also common and I wonder if you might have had both.
Either way, in response to your questions, as you very accurately point out, when it comes to HPV/warts, age definitely matters, in several ways. We know that:
1. Most of the research on HPV has been done on younger women, adolescents and, in general women less than 30.
2. HPV is slower to resolve in "older" (over 30 in most studies) women than in in younger age groups.
3. The immune system is more active in younger persons. Vaccine response rates tend to be higher and the body's ability to immunologically control infections is a bit lower among older persons.
4. Thus the data on average duration to clearance is more applicable to women and it is logical to think that they may take a bit longer than the stated two year average to run their course in an older individual.
It sounds like your thoughts and approach are on target. I hope my comments have been helpful. EWH
Thank you Dr!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, I would still say that if you are wart free for more than 3-4 months you can be confident you are not at risk for transmitting infection to others. EWH
If I\may, one more question Dr? Does the general rule of thumb still apply that, if I go 6 months without a recurrence, I can consider myself not at risk of transmitting the virus?
Btw- just wanted to let you know that I started with what appeared to be a single wart, after some months became several, then they started to appear more rapidly, and now have slowed down.
Thanks for your quick response Dr, i appreciate it.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes on both counts. You are likely to clear the virus over time and that you appear to have begun to clear your infection is a good sign. EWH
Thank you Dr. Do you think that I will eventually clear this virus? Does the fact that I went 4 and a half months, and most recently a month clear, and that the outbreaks have slowed, mean that my body is gaining control of the virus?
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
