What does it mean if HPV is detected on Pap smear?

If you get a positive HPV test, your physician has detected one or more high risk strains of the virus on the Pap test of your cervix. If the virus stays with you for a long time, it can cause cell changes that can lead to several types of cancer.

What does it mean when your Pap smear comes back positive for HPV?

If the results of your Pap test come back positive, that means your doctor found abnormal or unusual cells on your cervix. It doesn’t mean you have cervical cancer. Most often, the abnormal test result means there have been cell changes caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).

What happens if they find HPV in smear test?

HPV primary screening looks at the cells taken during a smear test and tests them for the HPV virus. The laboratory will look to see if you have high risk HPV. High risk HPV can cause cell changes in the cervix, which over time can develop into cancer.

Should I be worried if my Pap smear came back positive for HPV?

An abnormal Pap result combined with a positive HPV test usually doesn’t mean you have cancer, only that cancer is a potential future threat.

Can you get rid of HPV once you have it?

There is currently no cure for an existing HPV infection, but for most people it would be cleared by their own immune system and there are treatments available for the symptoms it can cause. You can also get the HPV vaccine to protect yourself against new infections of HPV which can cause genital warts or cancer.

Should I be worried about 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.

Do I need to 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.

Is HPV a STI or STD?

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). HPV is a different virus than HIV and HSV (herpes). There were about 43 million HPV infections in 2018, many among people in their late teens and early 20s.

Does HPV mean my husband cheated?

HPV persistence can occur for up to 10 to 15 years, therefore, it is possible for a partner to have contracted HPV from a previous partner and transmit it to a current partner. It is also possible the patient’s partner recently cheated on her, research confirms both possibilities.

How do you treat HPV positive?

There’s no treatment for HPV. Most HPV infections do not cause any problems and are cleared by your body within 2 years. Treatment is needed if HPV causes problems like genital warts or changes to cells in the cervix.

What are HPV symptoms in females?

Is HPV common in females?

Genital HPV is the most common STI in the United States for both women and men. About 79 million Americans have HPV. It is so common that 80% of women will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lifetime.

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.

Can a faithful couple get HPV?

Sex partners who have been together tend to share HPV, even when both partners do not show signs of HPV. Having HPV does not mean that a person or their partner is having sex outside the current relationship. There is no treatment to eliminate HPV itself. HPV is usually dealt with by your body’s immune system.

Can a man give a woman HPV?

Both men and women can contract HPV from having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has an infection. Most people who have an HPV infection unknowingly transmit it to their partner because they’re unaware of their own HPV status.

Is HPV contagious for life?

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.