Cervical screening results and questions about HPV

You usually get your cervical screening results in the post. It can take from 2 to 6 weeks. If you have been waiting longer than you expected, call your GP surgery to find out when you might hear. If there is a delay, try not to worry. It doesn't mean that there is anything wrong. Most people will have a normal result. 

There are several different results you can get after the cervical screening test. The wording in your letter might be slightly different depending on which part of the UK you live in.

What do my cervical screening results mean?

Cervical screening tests the sample of cells for high risk types of the HPV virus. High risk HPV can cause cell changes in the cervix, which over time may develop into cancer. Not all cell changes will develop into cancer. But it's important to monitor any changes and give treatment if necessary. 

If your result is HPV negative, your sample will not be tested for cell changes. If you have a high risk type of HPV, the sample is then checked under a microscope for cell changes.

Your test results could include one of the following:

No HPV found
This means you don't have high risk HPV. So you will be invited back for cervical screening in 3 or 5 years time depending on your age and where you live. 

HPV found with no cell changes
This means you have high risk HPV, but you do not have changes to your cervical cells. So you will be invited for a further HPV test sooner to check that the HPV has gone. This is usually after a year. Most people will clear HPV from their body. 

If you still have HPV after a year, you have another HPV test about one year later. Those who no longer have HPV return to routine screening every 3 or 5 years. If you continue to have a positive HPV result after 2 or 3 years, you are offered a colposcopy. When you have these tests might vary slightly depending on where you live. 

HPV found with cell changes
This means you have high risk HPV and cervical cell changes. These changes are also called dyskaryosis. You will be invited to go for a colposcopy. 

You have a further HPV test at a later time to check that the HPV has gone. When you have this depends on whether you have had treatment for the cervical changes. 

If you have changes in your cells

Having changes in your cells doesn’t mean that you have cancer. The changed cells often go back to normal by themselves. You may be monitored for a time and not have treatment. Or you might have treatment to remove the abnormal cells. This depends on whether you have low grade or high grade changes.  

It is very rare for an abnormal result to show that a cancer has already developed. This is especially the case if you have had regular cervical screening. 

Problems with the result

You might be told that you need a repeat test because yours couldn't be read properly. This is sometimes called having an inadequate sample. This could be because the sample:

• was taken but the cervix was not fully seen or visible

• did not contain enough cells

• contained inflammation, or blood, or too much lubricant

• was incorrectly labelled

In all these cases, the letter will ask you to go back and have another test. This is usually about 3 months later.

HPV questions and answers

Having a positive HPV result can raise some questions about HPV and what this means. 

• What is HPV?

• Does HPV cause any symptoms?

• How did I get HPV?

• Has my partner been unfaithful?

• Can I give someone else HPV? Is there anything I can do to stop this from happening?

• Does a positive HPV result mean I have cancer?

• How do I know if I’ve got rid of HPV? Can I get HPV again?

• Can HPV be treated?

• Can HPV be prevented?

• Can men have a test for HPV?

What is HPV?

HPV stands for human papillomavirus. It’s a very common virus. HPV lives in the skin and the cells lining the inside of our body. There are different types or strains of HPV. There are 2 types that cause nearly all cervical cancers. They are called high risk types because of this. These are types 16 and 18. 

Having HPV also increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, vulva, vagina, penis and anus.

Other types of HPV cause genital warts. These are types 9 and 11. The types of HPV that cause genital warts are not the same as the high risk types linked to cervical cancer. 

It’s important to remember that many people have HPV at some point in their lives. Infection with this virus doesn’t cause any problems in the majority of people. Having HPV doesn’t mean you will definitely get cancer.

Does HPV cause any symptoms?

No. Having HPV does not cause symptoms. Infection with HPV can lead to health problems, which could cause symptoms.

You can’t see HPV and you wouldn’t know you have it.

Some types of HPV can cause genital warts. Genital warts cause symptoms such as growths, itching and pain in the genital area. The types of HPV that cause genital warts are not the same as the high risk types linked to cervical cancer. 

Over time, high risk HPV may cause cells in the cervix to change and become abnormal which can lead to cervical cancer. Possible symptoms of cervical cancer include:

• abnormal bleeding (such as bleeding after sex, between periods or after the menopause)
• vaginal discharge that smells unpleasant
• pain during sex

Not everyone with cervical cancer has symptoms.

How did I get HPV?

Anyone who has had sexual contact may have HPV at some point in their life. 

HPV is passed from one person to another through close skin-to-skin contact. You are at risk of getting HPV with any kind of sexual activity including:

• oral sex
• touching in the genital area
• vaginal sex
• anal sex 
• sharing sex toys

Our immune systems usually clear the virus from the body and the virus doesn’t usually cause any problems. But in some people, the HPV is persistent and can stay in the body for some years. A person may have low levels of HPV infection, which may not always be picked up through screening. It’s not possible to work out when you got HPV.

Has my partner been unfaithful?

A positive HPV test does not mean that either partner has been unfaithful. 

HPV can stay in the body for a long time. It can be dormant and may not be picked up through cervical screening. It may become active at a later point, resulting in a positive HPV test. So it’s not possible to look back at screening results and work out when you got HPV.  

It is true that the chance of someone getting HPV increases: 

• the younger a person starts sexual contact
• with each new partner
• the more sexual partners they have 

The risk of getting HPV increases because your chances of being exposed to HPV are greater. But this doesn’t mean a person has to have had multiple partners, or be unfaithful, to get HPV. It’s possible to get HPV from just one occasion of sexual contact.

Can I give someone else HPV? Is there anything I can do to stop this from happening?

HPV is passed from one person to another through close skin-to-skin contact. And this is most likely during sexual contact.

You can reduce the risk of passing on HPV by using barrier methods such as condoms and dental dams. This doesn’t provide complete protection, but it helps to reduce the risk.

Remember HPV is very common. It’s possible that you might pass on HPV. But most people will clear the infection and it won’t cause them any problems.

Does a positive HPV result mean I have cancer?

No, a positive result does not mean that you have cancer. 

If your test shows that you have HPV, the cells are checked at the same time to see if there are any cell changes (abnormalities). What happens next depends on the results.

Doctors think that the time from HPV infection to the development of abnormal cells can take anything from 1 to 10 years. They think it takes longer for cancer to develop.

It is unusual for someone with cell changes to be diagnosed with cervical cancer as a result of screening. This is especially the case if you have gone to all your previous screening appointments when invited.

How do I know if I’ve got rid of HPV? Can I get HPV again?

You will have a further HPV test to check that you have got rid of the HPV. When you have the HPV test depends on whether or not you have abnormal cells and if you need treatment. Your healthcare team can go into more detail about this with you.

Our immune system usually builds up a resistance to infections that we’ve already had. But it can be difficult for some people to do this with HPV. This means it might be possible to become infected with the same type of HPV. Or some people get a different type or types of HPV. 

It is possible to pass it back and forth in a relationship. But most people are able to clear the HPV. The important thing is to go to your further appointments when invited so they can monitor you. 

Smoking makes it harder for someone to clear HPV from their body. So if you smoke and you can stop, this could help your immune system to get rid of it. 

Can HPV be treated?

No. There are no recommended or approved treatments for HPV. Some studies are looking at possible treatments to clear HPV and low grade abnormal cervical cells. The evidence is limited at the moment. 

Can HPV be prevented?

The HPV vaccination programme aims to stop people from getting HPV in the first place. It helps to prevent cancer by protecting against HPV. The vaccination is most effective in people who have not been exposed to HPV. So it is offered for free to certain age groups.  

Can men have a test for HPV?

Men can't routinely get a HPV test for free through the NHS or Health and Social Care (in Northern Ireland). 

HPV testing for men is available privately from some healthcare providers.

If you are a trans man or binary person with a cervix you can access primary HPV screening as part of the cervical cancer screening programme. You won't automatically be invited if you registered as male with your GP surgery. You will need to request this.