Shamelessly posting on AIBU for traffic as there are numerous HPV threads doing the rounds with quite a lot of conflicting information.
Is it correct that you can test negative for HPV even though you might have HPV? Because the virus may not be 'active' at the time of the test?
I first tested positive for HPV (a high risk strain) a few months ago (having regularly attended smears previously). I was told not to worry that my partner had cheated because I could have had the virus for many years but it not show up because it had been dormant. I was also told that at my next test it might not be present even though I will always have the virus.
I find the information available so confusing. I will 100% be getting any children I have vaccinated. And everyone attend your smears/HPV tests!
There also seems to be no information on how likely you are to get cervical cancer if you do have HPV.