Anal warts - HPV

[jeezx]

I was diagnosed with anal warts (one external and a few internal).
I had gone through an operation to remove them, and so far (4-5 months) I'm free of warts.
I need some clarifications.

Is HPV for life or not?
I see so many websites that mention that "most HPV infections are cleared by the immune system within 2 years..." and so on. What does "cleared" mean here? I asked my doctor today and he clearly told me that HPV is for life, so I don't understand thoes websites. There are doctors offering PCR tests for HPV, and if your results are OK it means you are not contagious anymore (feels like a fraud to me) - What's that all about?

Will I be able to have unprotected sex with a partner without fearing of transmitting HPV to him? What about a partners who have received the Gardasil vaccince?

I was hoping of finding a relationship but this just put me far away from it. This sucks ass :\

[mecch]

I think you should make a list of clear questions to your doctor and ask again.

Are you a guy and gay?  Most gay men take a partner's HPV infection in stride. That is my experience. It is hardly a topic, even, especially if the virus is long dormant. Yep the virus is for life.

You are using an HPV experience as some sort of deal-breaker preventing you from finding a relationship and I think you need to work on resolving this. I mean, HPV? What about herpes? That's a deal breaker too? 

Many many many gay men have HPV. Its rarely a deal-breaker.

You are sloppily throwing too much into this mix by the way.  As an HIV+ person, why is it so important to figure out -- ahead of the selection of a real lover with real idiosyncracies -- if HPV is going to rule out the possibility of condomless sex.  Putting the cart before the horse?  If your partner is HIV-, then HPV is not going to be at the top of considerations before chucking a condom. Right? It will be about HIV.  You'll have to be undetectable and for a long time, AND your partner will have to be ok with that.

Gardasil vaccinates against most of the strains that cause anal warts. There are many many strains of HPV by the way.  I would say that a partner vaccinated, and when your warts are long dormant, then yes, its not much risk to transmit.  But i am not a doctor. Your doctor should be able to answer that question. But caveat. Your doctor could easily throw his/her hands in the air and be bewildered why HPV is the concern for going without condoms, when you are HIV+.