What is the human papillomavirus (HPV) test?
A human papillomavirus (HPV) test screens for the virus that can cause cervical cancer.
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that you can catch or spread regardless of sex or gender. It’s transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. It’s also a common and complicated virus.
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For example, there are over 100 strains of HPV. They’re responsible for nuisance growths, like warts on your hands, feet and face. About 30 strains can affect your genitals. Some harmless strains cause genital warts. Of all the strains of HPV, only a few “high-risk” strains cause cervical cancer. HPV tests check for these strains. These include the most common cancer-causing types, HPV 16 and HPV 18.
Healthy bodies can clear most HPV infections within a few years. Still, over time, high-risk strains can cause precancerous changes (cervical dysplasia) that eventually become cervical cancer. Almost all cases of cervical cancer arise from high-risk HPV infections. This is why screening for high-risk HPV using an HPV test is essential.
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Currently, HPV tests can only detect HPV if you have a cervix. So, they’re only for people assigned female at birth (AFAB) with an intact cervix. There isn’t an HPV test for people assigned male at birth (AMAB).
When is an HPV test performed?
You may need an HPV test if:
- You’re a person with a cervix between ages 30 to 65. The American Cancer Society recommends regular screening with an HPV test for this age group.
- You had an abnormal pap smear. An HPV test can show if abnormal cells in your cervix (discovered during a routine Pap smear) are related to high-risk HPV infection.
- You have oropharyngeal cancer. High-risk HPV (especially HPV 16) is the most common cause of this type of throat cancer. It spreads through oral sex. Knowing that HPV is the cause helps your provider customize treatments. Oropharyngeal cancer associated with HPV has a better prognosis than oropharyngeal cancer that’s not associated with HPV.
If your HPV test results are normal, you should retest every five years. You may need more frequent screenings if you’ve tested positive for HPV in the past or if you have a condition that weakens your immune system, like HIV. A weakened immune system may be unable to fight infections (like HPV) as effectively.
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