- HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
- Disease Issues
If a person has been infected with a wild-type strain of HPV can they be reinfected with the same strain?
- If a person is infected with an HPV strain that does not clear (that is, the person becomes persistently infected) the person cannot be reinfected because they are continuously infected.
- If a person is infected with an HPV strain that clears, some but not all people will have a lower chance of reinfection with the same strain. Data suggest that females are more likely than males to develop immunity after clearance of natural infection.
- Prior infection with an HPV strain does not lessen the chance of infection with a different HPV strain.
Last reviewed:
October 13, 2023