Reply to Dr.M.D.Mazumdar, MD(O's Post: Im not sure I understand your response. Doesn't the immune system in most cases respond to HPV and dont most people build some partial immunity to HPV; hence the reasoning as to why HPV is a risk factor for cervical cancer and not always a necessary precursor?

A woman who has survived cervical cancer is likely to have had HPV. (correct?) If so then her immunne system was not able to deal effectively with the virus. Isnt she more likely to transmit it than the average population where the incidence of HPV would be lower than with the specific group of cervical cancer survivors (correct?) and the immune response has not yet been determined insufficient as to lead to the development of cervical cancer.

The specific situation that has led me to ask this question is as follows. A woman that had cervical cancer 17 years ago tells me she is std safe and has only been with 3 men in her life including her ex husband. When asked whether HPV was the cause of her cervical cancer she affirms that it was not. She wants to be able to play without protection. I do not think she is deceitful intentionally but may not realize that she can transmit a harmful HPV strain to me. Maybe this will clarify my initial question.