Can you have a normal Pap smear with HPV?

In fact, many women with HPV will never have an abnormal pap smear. That being said, routine screening with your provider is the only way to follow any changes to the cervix that could lead to cervical cancer.

Can you have HPV and a normal Pap?

However, a normal pap in the presence of POSITIVE HPV is a more grey area. Since HPV infection is so common, and usually transient, performing cervical biopsies on every person positive for HPV would be troublesome for women.

Will my pap smear be abnormal if I have HPV?

Abnormal Pap Smears are typically caused by strains of the Human Papilloma Virus, HPV. An abnormal pap smear result does not mean you have cervical cancer. High risk strains can cause more serious cellular changes. Typically, both high and low risk strains of HPV go away within 24 months.

Does HPV always show up on a smear?

When do you repeat a normal Pap with HPV?

Repeat Pap testing in one year – This is generally the preferred option for people age 21 to 24. HPV testing – This is also an option. If the HPV test is negative, you can return to your regular screening schedule. If the HPV test is positive, you should repeat the Pap test in one year.

What does it mean if Pap smear is normal but HPV positive?

A positive test result means that you have a type of high-risk HPV that’s linked to cervical cancer. It doesn’t mean that you have cervical cancer now, but it’s a warning sign that cervical cancer could develop in the future.

Should I tell my partner I have HPV?

Do I need to tell my partner? This is entirely your decision. Most men and women with HPV infection carry the infection without ever being aware of it. HPV infection does not need to be treated and in 95% cases, you would get rid of it through your immunity.

Should I be worried if I have HPV?

If you have HPV, there’s a very good chance it won’t be a long-term problem for you.” Your immune system will attack the virus and it will likely be gone within two years. Of the millions of cases of HPV diagnosed every year, only a small number become cancer. Most of those cases are cervical cancer.

Do I need a colposcopy if I have HPV?

Colposcopy. If you have certain symptoms that could mean cancer, if your Pap test shows abnormal cells, or if your HPV test is positive, you will most likely need to have a test called colposcopy.

How long does HPV last for?

Depending on the type of HPV that you have, the virus can linger in your body for years. In most cases, your body can produce antibodies against the virus and clear the virus within one to two years. Most strains of HPV go away permanently without treatment.

Will your doctor tell you if you have HPV?

If you’re healthy, doctors don’t routinely test for HPV. For women, the Pap test doesn’t check for HPV. It looks for changes in cells in your cervix. If you have certain changes in those cells, your doctor may ask the lab to check for the virus.

How long can you have HPV before testing positive?

HPV can lay dormant for many years after a person contracts the virus, even if symptoms never occur. Most cases of HPV clear within 1 to 2 years as the immune system fights off and eliminates the virus from the body. After that, the virus disappears and it can’t be transmitted to other people.

Can I test negative for HPV and still have it?

New cell changes can still form on your cervix. Your doctor may tell you that you can wait three years for your next screening test if you received a Pap test only. If you also received an HPV test, and the result is negative, your doctor may tell you that you can wait five years for your next screening test.

How often to do pap smear if HPV positive?

ACS has recently published updated cervical cancer screening guidelines that recommend women start screening at age 25 with an HPV test and have HPV testing every 5 years through age 65. However, testing with an HPV/Pap cotest every 5 years or a Pap test every 3 years is still acceptable.

How often should I get a Pap smear if I have HPV?

An HPV test every 5 years, or. A Pap and HPV test together (called co-testing) every 5 years.

What can cause an abnormal Pap smears besides HPV?