Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Test

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 200 related viruses that can generally be grouped into two types. These are called low-risk HPV and high-risk HPV. Low-risk HPV can cause warts on or around your genitals, anus, mouth, or throat.

High-risk HPV can cause: Cervical cancer.; Anal cancer.; Oropharyngeal cancer, a type of head and neck cancer, also called throat cancer.; Vulvar cancer.; Vaginal cancer.; Penile cancer.; Most HPV types are harmless. However, it's important for your health care provider to check for high-risk HPV infections. They do this by looking for DNA left by the virus in your vagina or cervix (the lower part of the uterus).

These infections can stay at the cervix for many years, leading to cell changes called precancer. If these changes are not screened for and treated, they may over time become cancer. Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by high-risk HPV infections.

Because of this, it is important to get routine testing for these viruses. If you do have an infection, your provider can decide how best to manage it. They may recommend that you have other tests and be tested more regularly to check for precancerous cells and cervical cancer.

Why this test is done

You may need an HPV test to screen for cervical cancer if you:

• Had an abnormal result on a Pap test. An HPV test can show whether HPV caused the abnormal changes in your cervical cells.
• Are age 30 through 65. If you had an HPV test or an HPV/Pap cotest and had normal results, your provider may say that you can wait five years until your next test.

If you are between the ages of 21 and 29 and your last Pap test result was normal:

• You do not need additional HPV testing.
• Your provider may recommend that you wait three years until your next Pap test.

Most people have been exposed to HPV, usually through sexual contact. HPV is especially common in the 21-29 age group. However, these infections usually clear up on their own within a year or two without causing any health conditions.

Some medical experts recommend starting HPV testing at age 25 and getting tested every 5 years if your last test was normal.

Cervical cancer is most common in people over age 30. If you have a high-risk HPV infection in your cervix, you're more likely to develop cervical cancer if you:

• Had an abnormal HPV test, Pap test, or cervical biopsy in the recent past.
• Have a weakened immune system because you:
• Have a disease that harms your immune system, such as HIV.
• Take medicine to control your immune system, such as certain medicines to treat cancer or autoimmune diseases.
• Have had cervical cancer or precancer.
• Smoke tobacco or breathe secondhand smoke.
• Use birth control pills or have given birth to many children.
• Were exposed to a drug called DES (Diethylstilbestrol) before you were born. Between 1940-1971, DES was sometimes prescribed to pregnant women to prevent miscarriages. It was later linked to an increased risk of certain cancers in the female children exposed to it before birth.

Ask your provider which cervical cancer screening test is right for you and how often you should be tested.

How to prepare

If you're having an HPV test:

You don't need to do anything to prepare for an HPV test.

If you are having an HPV/Pap cotest:

Avoid the following during the 2-day window before your HPV/Pap cotest

• Having vaginal sex
• Douching (rinsing the vagina with water or other fluid)
• Using vaginal medicines or spermicidal foam, jelly, or cream

If you did have sex before the HPV/Pap cotest, or are having your period, let your provider know. They should still be able to carry out both the HPV and Pap tests.

Other names for this test

genital human papillomavirus, high risk HPV, HPV DNA, HPV RNA