|
Health Information Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing
En Español (Spanish Version)
Definition
Human
papillomavirus (HPV) testing is used to
detect
human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually
transmitted infection. HPV is the major risk
factor for
cervical cancer.
HPV is also the cause
of "venereal warts" (also known as genital
warts or condyloma acuminata).
Testing may
include:
The HPV test is
approved to detect subtypes of HPV on a
woman's cervix. There is currently no test
to screen men for this condition.
Parts of the Body Involved
- Vulva
- Vagina
- Cervix (the
lower, narrow end of a woman’s uterus)
Reasons for Procedure
Your doctor may
want to test you for HPV if your Pap test
(or “Pap smear”) is inconclusive or shows
abnormal cells, which could result from HPV.
Your healthcare provider may also evaluate
you for HPV as part of a screening regimen.
There are many
subtypes of HPV. Some subtypes can cause
"genital warts", while others are associated
with cervical cancer. An abnormal Pap test
does not always mean that you have a disease
of the cervix.
What to Expect:
Prior to Procedure
- Do not
schedule the test during your
menstrual period.
- Do not
use vaginal creams, medications, or
douches for 72 hours before the
test.
- Do not
use contraceptives such as
spermicidal foams, creams, or
jellies for 72 hours before the
test. A Pap smear should be
performed during the weeks before
the start of menstruation.
- Women
should not douche or have sexual
intercourse for 24 hours before the
test.
- No
vaginal creams, diaphragms, or
tampons should be used for 24 hours
before the test.
- To
minimize discomfort, a woman should
empty her bladder just before the
exam.
Description of the Procedure
This
procedure is similar to that of a pelvic
exam and Pap test. You lie on your back
on an examination table with legs spread
and feet placed in foot rests. A medical
instrument, called a speculum, is gently
inserted into the vagina and opened so
that the doctor can view the cervix. A
swab, brush, or stick is inserted into
the vagina and used to wipe the walls of
the cervix.
After wiping
the walls of the cervix, the swab is
placed in a tube of special liquid and
sent to a lab. If the lab finds HPV in
the liquid, your doctor will know what
kind of HPV you have.
How Long Will It Take?:
An HPV test
takes less than five minutes. It may
take 2-3 weeks to get the results.
Will It Hurt?:
No
Possible Complications:
None
Average Hospital Stay:
None...an
HPV
test is done at your doctor’s office.
Outcome
Results of the
HPV test may take up to 2 weeks. Your doctor
will inform you of the results, and if
necessary, discuss any follow-up testing or
treatment.
If the test
shows that you don’t have HPV (a negative
test result), it is not likely that you have
a pre-cancerous change on your cervix.
Pre-cancerous cell changes may or may not
lead to cancer. Your doctor may advise you
to get a Pap test in 4-6 months to watch for
any problems.
A positive test
result means that you are infected with HPV.
Depending on the type of HPV found, you may
have an increased risk of developing
cervical cancer. If you do have HPV, your
doctor may want you to have a colposcopy, a
procedure that uses a special microscope to
view the cervix. During that time, your
doctor may also take a small sample of
tissue from your cervix, called a "biopsy",
and check it for signs of cancer.
Follow-up
Sexual partners
need to be examined by a healthcare provider
and treated if warts are noted. A follow-up
examination should be done every few weeks
after initial treatment, then
self-examination can be initiated. Return
for treatment if the warts recur.
If you or your
partner has a history of genital warts, your
doctor may give you a Pap smear at least
every six months. Also, if you currently
have warts, you may need to have a Pap smear
ever three months after initial treatment.
Prevention
- As with all
sexually transmitted diseases, total
abstinence remains the only 100% assured
way of avoiding this condition.
- Having a
monogamous sexual relationship with a
partner known to be disease-free is the
most practical way of avoiding sexually
transmitted diseases.
- According
to the American Cancer Society and the
Centers for Disease Control, research
has shown that condoms cannot completely
protect against infection with HPV. This
is because HPV can be transmitted with
any skin-to-skin contact with any HPV-infected
area of the body, such as the skin of
the genital or anal area (which are not
covered by a condom). Condoms are still
recommended, though, as they may prevent
some HPV transmission, and also the
transmission of other sexually
transmitted diseases that may coexist
with HPV.
The absence of
visible warts cannot be used to decide
whether caution is warranted, since HPV
can
be passed onto another person even when
there are no visible warts or other
symptoms. HPV can be present for years with
no symptoms.
Call Your Doctor If Any of the Following
Occurs:
- Signs of
infection, including fever and chills
- Vaginal
bleeding between menstrual periods or
after
menopause
- Bleeding
after intercourse
- Foul
vaginal odor, pain, or unusual vaginal
discharge
- Severe
abdominal pain or swelling
RESOURCES:
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org
American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists
www.acog.org
theHPVtest.com
www.thehpvtest.com
American Social Health Association
www.ashastd.org
familydoctor.org
www.familydoctor.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Sex Information and Education Council of
Canada (SIECCAN)
www.sieccan.org
Sexualityandu.ca
www.sexualityandu.ca/eng
|
