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Understanding Your Cervical Screening Test Result

This page is for people who have a type of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can sometimes cause cervical cancer. If you have questions about your cervical screening test result, see About Your Cervical Screening Test Result. To find out more about HPV, see About HPV. If you have any other questions about your cervical screening test result, talk to your doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife.

About Your Cervical Screening Test Result

To know more about your cervical screening test result, select the heading below that matches the information in your letter. To find out more about HPV, see About HPV.

No other tests are needed right now

Is it safe to wait 2 years for my next cervical screening test?

Yes. Research shows that it is best for people with this test result to get another cervical screening test in 2 years. Waiting 2 years gives your body time to try to get rid of the HPV infection. For most people, HPV goes away on its own in 2 to 3 years without doing any harm. It is very rare for someone with your test result to get cervical cancer. Your HPV will not go away sooner if you get another cervical screening test before you are supposed to.

In the meantime, if you notice new or different bleeding or discharge (clear or yellow fluid) from the vagina (genital opening), talk to your doctor, your nurse practitioner, your midwife or the person who did your test.

What if I still have HPV at my next cervical screening test in 2 years?

If your next test in 2 years shows that you still have HPV, you may be sent for an exam called cervical colposcopy (sounds like call-poss-ka-pee). Colposcopy is an exam done by a specialist doctor, such as a gynecologist. During colposcopy, the specialist checks the cervix more closely than during a cervical screening test. The person who does your next cervical screening test can let you know your next steps.

What if I do not have HPV at my next cervical screening test in 2 years?

If your next test in 2 years shows that you do not have HPV, you will be asked to get another cervical screening test in 5 years. If you have a weakened immune system, you may be asked to get a cervical screening test sooner than 5 years. People with a weakened immune system include people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as people who take medicine that makes the immune system weaker or who need dialysis. It also includes people with organ or stem cell transplants, lupus or congenital immunodeficiency (born with an immune system defect). A doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife will let you know when you should get tested.

If you want to know more about HPV, see About HPV.

You need a test called cervical colposcopy

What happens during cervical colposcopy?

Cervical colposcopy (sounds like call-poss-ka-pee) is an exam done by a specialist doctor, such as a gynecologist. During colposcopy, the specialist checks the cervix more closely than during a cervical screening test.

At the colposcopy appointment, the specialist uses a medical tool called a speculum and puts a small amount of liquid on the cervix to highlight any abnormal areas. The specialist uses a bright light and magnifying lens (colposcope) to see if anything does not look normal. Tiny samples of tissue (biopsies) are sometimes taken from the cervix and sent to the lab for testing. The biopsy can help figure out whether treatment is needed.

What is a biopsy?

If any abnormal tissue is found in the cervix during cervical colposcopy, the specialist may take a small sample of the tissue (a biopsy) so it can be checked under a microscope in a lab. The biopsy can help figure out whether treatment is needed. While a biopsy can feel uncomfortable, no numbing or pain medication is needed.

What type of treatment might I need?

During colposcopy, if the specialist finds cells in the cervix that could turn into cancer, treatment may be needed. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you.

Treatment could include:

  • Loop excision (also called LEEP) – abnormal cells are removed from the cervix using a wire loop
  • Laser – abnormal cells are removed using a laser beam

If you want to know more about HPV, see About HPV.

We could not tell from your test whether the HPV has changed any cells in your cervix

Why could you not tell whether HPV has changed cells in my cervix?

If your letter had this message, it means that the lab could not read your test properly. This can happen for different reasons and does not mean anything is wrong. It is important to repeat the test as soon as possible to figure out whether HPV has changed any cells in your cervix. Cell changes can sometimes turn into cervical cancer over time, but the cells can be treated before they cause cervical cancer.

Why do I need to repeat my test?

The lab could not read your test properly, which can happen for different reasons and does not mean anything is wrong. It is important to repeat the test to figure out whether HPV has changed any cells in your cervix. Cell changes can sometimes turn into cervical cancer over time, but the cells can be treated before they cause cervical cancer.

Is there anything I can do to make sure the lab can read my test?

If you are in menopause or using transition-related hormone therapy (for example androgen therapy) your doctor, nurse practitioner or the person doing your cervical screening test may suggest that you use an estrogen cream for a short period of time before doing your test to help make sure it is readable.

What happens during cervical colposcopy?

Cervical colposcopy (sounds like call-poss-ka-pee) is an exam done by a specialist doctor, such as a gynecologist. During colposcopy, the specialist checks the cervix more closely than during a cervical screening test.

At the colposcopy appointment, the specialist uses a medical tool called a speculum and puts a small amount of liquid on the cervix to highlight any abnormal areas. The specialist uses a bright light and magnifying lens (colposcope) to see if anything does not look normal. Tiny samples of tissue (biopsies) are sometimes taken from the cervix and sent to the lab for testing. The biopsy can help figure out whether treatment is needed.

If you want to know more about HPV, see About HPV.

Your test found some cells that need to be checked more closely

What does it mean if I have cells that need to be checked more closely?

A cervical screening test checks for cells from the cervix and surrounding body parts. As a result, sometimes the test will find abnormal cells that do not come from the cervix (for example, vagina, and uterus or womb) and need to be checked more closely. If this happens, it does not necessarily mean you have cancer, but it is important to take a closer look at the cells. Talk to your doctor, your nurse practitioner, your midwife or the person who did your cervical screening test about next steps.

If you want to know more about HPV, see About HPV.

About HPV

What is HPV?

HPV is a virus that is passed from one person to another through sexual contact. Sexual contact includes any time another person has contact with your genitals (private parts). This contact can be with the hands, mouth or genitals.

HPV is common and will often go away on its own without doing any harm.

There are more than 100 types of HPV and they can cause changes to the cells of the cervix. With some types of HPV, these cell changes can turn into cervical cancer over time if they are not treated. It is important to find cell changes and treat them, if needed, before they cause cervical cancer.

When and how did I get HPV?

There is usually no way to know when someone gets HPV. Someone can have HPV for many years without knowing it. People can get HPV when another person has sexual contact with their genitals. This contact can be with the hands, mouth or genitals.

HPV is common and most people will get HPV at least once in their lifetime. HPV often goes away on its own in 2 to 3 years without doing any harm, but sometimes HPV stays in the cervix.

Some research shows that using condoms regularly can help lower the chance of getting cervical cancer because they lower the chance of getting HPV. But condoms cannot fully protect against HPV or completely prevent cervical cancer.

Do I need to stop having sexual contact if I have HPV?

You can still have sexual contact if you have HPV. Talk to a doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife, or go to a sexual health clinic if you have questions.

Does my partner need to get a cervical screening test?

People eligible for a cervical screening test should get tested according to the Ontario Cervical Screening Program recommendations and not more often. Talk to a doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife, or go to a sexual health clinic if you have questions.

Can I do something to get rid of my HPV?

No, but HPV will often go away on its own without doing any harm. One of the best ways to prevent health issues caused by HPV, including cervical cancer, is to get a cervical screening test when you are supposed to.

Is it possible to get HPV again?

It is possible to get HPV again in the future. There are more than 100 types of HPV and most people will get HPV at least once in their lifetime. HPV will often go away on its own without doing any harm.

If I have HPV, am I going to get cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is cancer in the cervix. The cervix is a body part that connects the uterus (womb) to the vagina (genital opening). Having a type of HPV that can sometimes cause cervical cancer does not necessarily mean you will get cervical cancer, but you may need an exam called cervical colposcopy (sounds like call-poss-ka-pee). During colposcopy, a specialist doctor checks your cervix more closely than during a cervical screening test. Your colposcopy results will help you and the specialist decide on next steps. Getting colposcopy can help you avoid getting cervical cancer.