Article provided by QIAGEN
When a woman discovers that she has a high-risk HPV, naturally, she wants to learn more about what it means and what happens next.
The most important thing to remember is that HPV infections are very common, and are usually nothing to worry about! In most women, HPV infections go away or are suppressed by the body without causing any problems that need treatment. It is only when an HPV infection stays active over a long period of time that abnormal cells may form.
Note that if the HPV test shows you do not have HPV, but your Pap look abnormal, it is less likely that you have cervical disease. The presence of a high-risk type of HPV is necessary for cancer to develop. However, just to be sure, the guidelines recommend that you get a colposcopy exam of your cervix. And if you do not have HPV but your Pap results are unclear or inconclusive ("ASC-US"), both the HPV and Pap tests should be repeated in a year. Be sure to speak with your doctor or nurse about your results and next steps.
For a graphic of Pap and HPV test results and what they mean, go to: http://www.thehpvtest.com/Getting-the-Test/What-Your-Test-Results-Mean/O...
For additional information on cervical cancer prevention and HPV testing, please visit www.theHPVtest.com.