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

The most common reason for a negative Pap test with a positive HPV result is that the patient has an HPV infection, but the infection is not causing any cellular abnormalities. Cellular abnormalities caused by HPV can be quite focal on the cervix, while the HPV infection can be more widespread.

Can you have a positive HPV test and a normal Pap?

Some women for whom we test for HPV will have a normal pap smear, but have a positive high risk HPV result. This is particularly confusing because they may have never had an abnormal pap smear, and they may never even develop one.

Should I worry if my HPV test is positive?

A positive HPV test means you do have an HPV type that may be linked to cervical cancer. This does not mean you have cervical cancer now. But it could be a warning. The specific HPV type may be identified to determine the next step.

Do I need a colposcopy if I have HPV but normal Pap?

If you test positive for HPV 16/18, you will need to have a colposcopy. If you test positive for HPV (but did not have genotyping performed or had genotyping and tested negative for 16/18), you will likely have a colposcopy.

What causes positive HPV on Pap?

WHAT CAUSES AN ABNORMAL PAP SMEAR RESULT? HPV, Human Papiloma Virus, causes abnormal Pap smear results because HPV is a virus which infects skin cells. When subclinical HPV infects the skin cells in the cervix (skin cells on the cervix are called squamous cells), it causes the cells to change and become abnormal.

Danielle Sepulveres Part 2 of 2, But What’s a Positive HPV Test Mean Anyway?

How common are false positive HPV results?

It's up to 30 percent of people [who] are falsely positive." These false positive cases can lead to unnecessary, higher risk follow-up procedures, like biopsies. "That's a lot of women that are unnecessarily worried.

Can a yeast infection cause a positive HPV test?

What causes an abnormal Pap test? Most abnormal Pap tests are caused by HPV infections. Other types of infection—such as those caused by bacteria, yeast, or protozoa (Trichomonas)—sometimes lead to minor changes on a Pap test called atypical squamous cells.

Does testing positive for HPV mean you have an STD?

HPV is the most common STI. There were about 43 million HPV infections in 2018, many among people in their late teens and early 20s. There are many different types of HPV. Some types can cause health problems, including genital warts and cancers.

What should I do if I am HPV positive?

If the HPV test is positive, you may need additional follow-up tests. Atypical glandular cells (AGC): Some glandular cells were found that do not look normal. This can be a sign of a more serious problem up inside the uterus, so your healthcare provider will likely ask you to come back for a colposcopy.

Can you be misdiagnosed with HPV?

Can I have a false positive HPV test? A false-positive HPV test result could mean your test shows you have HPV, but not the type of HPV that causes cancer. Some studies indicate HPV cotests – Pap smears that test the same cells for cervical and HPV – have more false-positive results than primary high-risk HPV tests.

How did I get HPV if I am married?

The reason HPV is so common is because the virus lives on the skin. This means you can catch it simply through skin-to-skin contact. HPV transmission, of the types that cause genital warts, can happen during oral, anal, and vaginal sex, but you can also get it through intimate touching or sharing sex toys.

Can you be HPV positive with no abnormal cells?

HPV positive: no abnormal cells

If none are found, your result will say you have HPV , but no abnormal cells. We will ask you to come for screening again sooner than usual (your result letter will explain when). This is so we can check if your immune system has got rid of the HPV (this happens in most cases).

How often should a woman with HPV get a Pap smear?

Women age 21-65 should get a Pap smear every 3 years beginning at age 21. Women age 30 and older can consider Pap testing every 5 years if the procedure is combined with human papillomavirus (HPV)—a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer.

Should you have your cervix removed if you have HPV?

Unfortunately, once you have been infected with HPV, there is no treatment that can cure it or eliminate the virus from your system. A hysterectomy removes the cervix, which means that the risk of developing cervical cancer because of persistent HPV infection will essentially be eliminated.

How long can you have HPV before testing positive?

A person can have HPV for many years before it is detected. found on your HPV test does not cause genital warts. used all the time and the right way. Condoms may also lower your chances of getting other types of HPV or developing HPV-related diseases (genital warts and cervical cancer).

How do I know what type of HPV I have?

HPV testing can be performed for women with a Pap test (commonly known as a Pap smear), which is a screening test for cervical cancer. HPV testing is only available for women, and it can determine if HPV is present. If present, the test can determine whether the HPV is a low- or a high-risk type.

What to do if pap smear showed 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. You will lie on the exam table as you do with a pelvic exam.

Can HPV go away after abnormal Pap?

Genital warts are a form of low-risk HPV, and they do not cause cancer. Doctors monitor HPV with Pap tests that look for abnormal cervical cells called lesions. Low-grade lesions — where the changes are only mildly abnormal — often clear up on their own. These are not considered precancerous.

What are the symptoms of HPV in females?

Is it normal to have HPV?

HPV infections are very common. Nearly everyone will get HPV at some point in their lives. More than 42 million Americans are currently infected with HPV types that cause disease. About 13 million Americans, including teens, become infected each year.

Is HPV positive contagious?

You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. It most commonly spreads during anal or vaginal sex. It also spreads through close skin-to-skin touching during sex. HPV can spread even when a person with the infection has no signs or symptoms.

What symptoms does HPV cause?

HPV does not usually cause any symptoms. Most people who have it do not realise and do not have any problems. But sometimes the virus can cause painless growths or lumps around your vagina, penis or anus (genital warts).

How do you know if your HPV is high risk?

An HPV test finds high-risk types of HPV on your cervix that can possibly lead to cancer. Your doctor can tell you which tests you need and how often you should get them. There isn't a test for high-risk HPV in the vulva, penis, anus, or throat, and HPV itself doesn't have any symptoms.

Can a yeast infection cause a false positive HPV?

A yeast infection can cause some cells to appear abnormal, which means that the results of a Pap smear come back as ASC-US. However, this is not an indication of cervical cancer.