Because it transfers easily through epithelial cells touching epitherleal cells, that means it isn't carried in semen, blood saliva etc. as a
necesssary delivery mechanism. It may (we do not know for sure) live in cells that are exfoiated and transfered around, and it may live in some cell types in which it does not cuase malignancies. There's a whole bunch that we do not know.
As an illustration of virus behavior, just consider the herpes simplex 1 or 2 virus. It is in your mouth or on your genitals when active, it can also be on your skin, in your eyes, and other places causing painful ulcerations when active. You NEVER shed or get rid of it, you have it for life. But you don't have sores for life so.... it goes dormant. When it chooses to do that, driven there by your immune system, it lives on the ganglions of your nerves. It's there, but it isn't causing a HSV1 or 2 lesions there, it is just hanging out there until the next time that it desires to manifest itself.
Some researchers say the
HPV can be dormant in you for decades. Interesting idea. Certainly possible. Provable? NO. If it is dormant in you, they have no idea where it is, or even where to go look for it. Who would have thought that HSV1 would go live on your nerves? That isn't where it manifests itself. So even researchers make comments sometimes that are a best guess, with no scientific proof, like - because another virus does something, perhaps this one does the same thing. A leap of possibility, but not proof of actuality. But is that a fact? No way. I can't count the number of doctors and dentists I have heard say this dormant thing with conviction / belief and teach it to others in courses as if it were fact. It ain't. It is just as plausible that because the virus is so common and transfers so easily, that you get it, get rid of it, and get it again, over and over. Perhaps from your monogamous sex partner who has an immune system and/or genetic make-up that allows it to persist in them. Since it doesn't produce visible, painful sores/lesions, they and you, wouldn't know.
