Could you have been re-exposed to it, or been under stressful conditions that impaired your immune system? For most people, the virus clears away on its own, with time, the immune system seems to take charge of the virus, making recurrences less frequent and often eliminating them entirely within about two years. Though for some it could be latent and it can suddenly appear, kind of like the oral herpes virus, which you can carry in your bloodstream for years without manifestation of cold sores until suddenly, a sore appears. Usually, like in the case of HPV, it is due to a compromise of your immune system, such as excessive stress, serious illness, or surgery. Because these are short-lived conditions, the manifestation of the HPV could also be short-lived.
As a virus, HPV will remain in the infected person’s cells for an indefinite time–most often in a latent state but occasionally producing symptoms or disease. Recent studies suggest that HPV may eventually be cleared, or rooted out altogether, in most people with well-functioning immune systems. However, in at least some cases the virus apparently does remain in the body indefinitely, able to produce symptoms if the immune system weakens. It is important not to skip out on pap smears, but especially in the case of someone who has HPV, even more so if it has been determined that your strain is the type that can produce cervical cancer. As long as you keep following up with pap smears and colposcopies regularly, as well as any recommended form of treatment from your ob/gyn, you should be fine.
