You Have HPV, but Your Pap Test Is Normal:
What Your Results Mean
You have just learned that you have HPV. You may feel
confused and scared. But once you have all the facts,
you’ll learn that having HPV is very common. And it’s
nothing to be afraid of.
First, a few facts:
■ HPV – or human papillomavirus – is very common,
almost like a cold. (“Papilloma” is pronounced
"pap-ah-LO-mah.") In fact, about 8 out of 10 women
will have had HPV by the time they’re 50.
■ The virus is spread through sexual contact. You can
get HPV from being intimate with just one partner.
The good news:
■ While HPV is common, cervical cancer is not. Most
HPV infections go away on their own without causing
any problems. It’s only when an infection lasts for
several years that it can cause abnormal cells to
form in the cervix – the kind that can become
cervical cancer.
About 8
As a mother of five and wife of eighteen years, it was a shock
to learn I had HPV. I make time to get my regular check-ups,
including my annual OB/GYN appointment – no matter how
busy I am. At one exam, my doctor told me about the HPV test.
I took the test and found out I had the virus! Now I know a lot
more about the facts, and I realize that HPV is something all
women should know about.” – Jodi McKinney
What happens next?
■ If you have HPV but your Pap is normal, there’s no
reason for alarm! Medical experts agree that it’s best
to wait about a year before repeating both the Pap
and HPV tests. Although you may not want to wait,
remember that most HPV infections clear up on their
own without causing problems.
■ If you still have the virus on your next HPV test or your
Pap test results are abnormal, then it’s time to have a
colposcopy. During a colposcopy, your doctor or nurse
uses a magnifying device to look at your cervix more
closely. Your practitioner may also remove a small
sample of tissue to analyze further in the lab. If any precancerous
cells are found, they can then be removed.
What should I tell my partner?
Whether to talk to your sexual partner about HPV is your
decision. But if you decide to, remember that:
■ Chances are, by the time your infection was detected,
your partner had already been exposed to HPV.
■ Once you share a particular type of the virus through
sexual contact, there is no further risk of passing the
infection back and forth. If you are sexually active with
a new partner, using a condom provides some,
although not complete, protection.
■ It’s almost impossible to determine who gave you HPV
or when you first became infected. You could have
gotten it from your current partner or any of your
previous partners.
■ If your partner is a male, there is no FDA-approved
HPV test for men. Fortunately, health problems from
HPV are rare in males.
Most adults will get HPV if they are or have
been in a sexual relationship. There’s no need
for shame, blame, or embarrassment.
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Made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from QIAGEN. 2004055