Hello Vc88 and thanks for posting, 

Although many women who test positive for HPV understandably ponder it, how and when anyone picks up the virus is always a mystery. 

I don't think every aspect about the natural history of HPV acquisition and clearance is completely understood yet and most studies probably don't follow participants up beyond 5-10 years. But a newly detected HPV infection can be the result of an old one acquired in the past that has become reactivated recently. 

Although I don't think this is all that common, I have read about intermittent positivity meaning that someone might test positive and then negative and then positive again. In essence, it could be possible to have an HPV infection for a long time, not necessarily in an active state throughout, and test negative after having tested positive previously.  

HPV testing as the main test in cervical screening is relatively recent, in future as more data accumulates regarding women's HPV status over the years, hopefully more information will come to light, but I think for now some questions about it are unanswerable.

If you want to talk anything over please do give us a call on Freephone 0808 800 4040, we are here weekdays from 9-5. 

Best wishes,

Julia