HPV Testing - After treatment of a high-grade abnormality

HPV Testing After treatment of a high-grade abnormality

We encourage all women with an abnormal Pap test result to follow the advice of their practitioner.

Would you like more information?

For more information on HPV, Pap tests or cervical cancer, log on to www.papscreen.org.au or call 13 11 20.

VCCR-PUB- 29 V1

Victorian Cervical Cytology Registry PO Box 161, Carlton South, Victoria Telephone: (03) 9250 0399 Toll Free: 1300 885 937 Fax: (03) 9349 1818 Email: registry@vccr.org Website: www.vccr.org

Pap smear abnormalities are common.

Most of these changes are due to a virus called Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

The body often clears this virus with no treatment at all, but sometimes more significant or serious cell changes are seen in the cervix. These cell changes are called “high-grade� and they can be treated.

You had a Pap smear in the past which showed some high-grade cell changes Although there is no specific treatment for the virus (HPV), when the cells are treated this prompts the body’s immune system to clear HPV. This process usually takes one to two years.

Once you have had treatment for high-grade cell changes, it is important to monitor your Pap tests regularly and to make sure that the HPV has cleared.

HPV tests, taken at the same time as a Pap smear, are recommended for women who have had treatment for high-grade cell changes so that you can eventually return to having Pap smears at the same routine interval as the majority of women in the community.

It works like this:

What if my HPV test is positive?

4-6 months after your treatment you should return to your gynaecologist or dysplasia clinic.

HPV usually takes 12-24 months to clear from your body, but occasionally it takes longer. In addition, some women may become infected with a new type of HPV resulting in a positive test. But like most HPV infection, this will also usually clear in 1 to 2 years.

At that visit your specialist will look at your cervix with a colposcope and take another Pap smear.

If this examination is OK you will be asked to return to your usual health practitioner 6 months later. Then you start having Pap smears and HPV tests.

These two tests should be done every 12 months until you have a negative (normal) Pap smear and a negative HPV test one year, followed by a negative (normal) Pap smear and a negative HPV test the following year.

You will not be charged for the HPV test in these circumstances.

How is the HPV test taken?

The test is taken in much the same way as a Pap smear.

A soft brush is used to take some cells from your cervix.

The brush is placed in a tube and sent to the laboratory.

Results are usually available in 1-2 weeks and will be sent to your health practitioner.

How much does the HPV test cost?

The HPV test is free for women who have had treatment for a high-grade abnormality and are having the test to determine when they can return to the usual regular screening interval.

For all other women the cost ranges from around $60 to over $100 depending which laboratory your test is sent to.

Keep having the two tests (Pap smear and HPV test) done every 12 months until both tests are negative on two consecutive occasions.

Then you can return to having Pap smears at the same routine interval as the majority of women in the community.