Return to Women's Health Articles Index Page	Share |

Cervical Cancer Screening Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing

HPV Testing for Cervical Cancer Prevention

Some doctors have proposed that HPV testing may be an alternative to traditional Pap smear testing for screening of cervical cancer. Some advantages of HPV testing include patients can collect sample themselves, thus they are more likely to go in for screening. IN addition HPV testing may detect cervical changes when a Pap smear suggests everything is fine.

There are however disadvantages to HPV screening in place of PAP screening. Many women have transient or passing HPV infections. May women with HPV never develop lesions. In other cases a woman might have a false positive test for HPV, and undergo unnecessary extra testing including colposcopy.

Combined Screening Methods for Cervical Cancer
Perhaps the best solution is combined testing for women at risk for cervical cancer. In April of 2003 the FDA approved a test combining the HPV and Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer. This combined test provides the most accurate results and may be the primary screening test for women 30 and over.

Testing Recommendations
There are many different opinions available on cervical cancer testing. In 2003 the American Cancer Society and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended the following regarding cervical screenings:

• Women should start screening for cervical cancer at least three years after starting vaginal intercourse, or by the age of 21. Most cervical changes at this age are related to HPV infection.
• Women less than 30 years should undergo an annual Pap smear to test for cervical abnormalities. If liquid based technology is used, the American Cancer Society recommends testing every two years. However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists still recommend annual testing regardless of the method used.
• Women over 30 years of age with negative HPV and Pap results may increases the interval in between testing.

As you can see, there are still many different opinions regarding the best methods for cervical cancer screening. To ensure your health and well being, you should consult with your doctor so the two of you can decide the best testing protocols given your age, medical history and sexual history. Your doctor can help decide what tests are necessary to screen adequately for cervical cancer and reduce your risk of developing a serious form of this disease.