What do the results mean?
Your results will be given as negative, also called normal, or positive, also called abnormal.
Negative/Normal. No high-risk HPV was found. Your health care provider may recommend you come back for another screening in five years, or sooner depending on your age and medical history.
Positive/Abnormal. High-risk HPV was found. It does not mean you have cancer. It means you may be at higher risk for getting cervical cancer in the future. Your health care provider may order more tests to monitor and/or diagnose your condition. These tests may include:
Colposcopy, a procedure in which your provider uses a special magnifying tool (colposcope) to look at the vagina and cervix
Cervical Biopsy, a procedure in which your provider takes a sample of tissue from the cervix to look at under a microscope
More frequent co-testing (HPV and pap smear)
If your results were positive, it's important to get regular or more frequent tests. It can take decades for abnormal cervical cells to turn into cancer. If found early, abnormal cells can be treated before they become cancerous. It's much easier to prevent cervical cancer than to treat it once it develops.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
