The American Cancer Society recommends screening for cervical cancer if you’re someone with a cervix who is at least 25 years old. Frequency of testing can depend on your medical history (such as abnormal Pap results or cervical cancer in the past) but generally speaking, HPV screening is typically performed every 5 years. If you are unsure when testing may be right for you, we encourage you to follow up with your healthcare provider.

According to the CDC, 14 million people are newly infected with HPV each year, and nearly 12,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. HPV can clear on its own, which is why testing is not recommended for women under the age of 21. The time it takes for an HPV infection to develop into cervical cancer is about 15-20 years for women with normal immune systems, and the risk of developing cervical cancer under the age of 21 is rare. However, women over the age of 25 with a high-risk HPV infection are at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.

Learn more: How to test for HPV

In the United States, cervical cancer screening is known to reduce the cervical cancer rate among women. In fact, cervical cancer cases have been declining since 1975 due to the Pap test, and screening with HPV high-risk tests (like the HPV DNA test or HPV mRNA test) further supported this downward trend when it became a recommended screening option by public health organizations in 2003. The Pap test and screening tests for high-risk, genital HPV strains offer a chance to catch cervical cancer early and seek treatment.

A Pap test and an HPV test for women can both check for genital HPV strains that can cause cervical cancer. During a Pap test, also known as a Pap smear, cervical cells are collected and examined with a microscope for signs of HPV (such as the presence of abnormal cervical cells). HPV tests, on the other hand, detect HPV DNA (the genetic material of the virus) in a vaginal sample. Both kinds of tests are often, but not always, done at the same time during routine cervical cancer screenings.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommend that all women, even those who have had the HPV vaccine, follow these screening guidelines:

• Women ages 25–65 should be screened every five years with an HPV test, but an HPV/Pap cotest every 5 years or Pap test every 3 years are both acceptable
• Women over 65 do not require screening if previous results were normal

High-risk HPV genotypes can increase a woman's risk of forming precancerous lesions, which may progress to cervical and other types of genital cancers - like vulvar or anal - if the body is unable to clear the infection on its own. Low-risk HPV genotypes are not correlated with a risk of cervical cancer, but are known to cause genital warts. If you suspect you have genital warts, please see your healthcare provider to discuss your options and next steps.

Although this HPV test does not diagnose cervical cancer, it tests to see if you’ve been infected with high-risk genotypes of HPV, which can give a more complete picture of your cervical cancer risk. This will help you and your healthcare provider make important decisions about additional testing and future prevention.

This HPV test for those assigned female at birth will, with greater than 99% accuracy, tell you if you are infected with a high-risk type of HPV (for 14 different genotypes) and whether the infection is caused by HPV 16 or HPV 18.

In the event that your HPV test result is abnormal, an associate from our physician network will contact you directly to discuss your particular case, as well as provide information about next steps.

We always recommend sharing the results with your healthcare provider, who may perform additional testing. Additional testing may include a Pap smear if your HPV test result showed abnormal cells.

There are more than 100 different types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV types, or genotypes, are grouped into two categories: low-risk and high-risk. Low-risk HPV genotypes can cause genital warts, but are not known to cause cancer. A persistent high-risk HPV infection, on the other hand, can lead to cervical cancer and/or cancer of the vagina, vulva, or anus.

A Pap smear is not the same as an HPV test, although both are used as cervical cancer screening methods.

• Pap smear — In a Pap smear, a sample of cells is taken from your cervix (a cervical specimen) and prepared for microscopic observation. A cytologist (an expert who specializes in microscopic examination of cells) then looks at the smear for abnormal cells that can indicate an HPV infection.
• HPV test — In an HPV test, a vaginal swab can be used instead of cervical cells. The vaginal swab is checked for HPV's genetic material using DNA or mRNA testing technology. Because the vaginal swab can be collected at home, the HPV test is a convenient screening method.

• You can take an HPV test at home with our at-home collection kit. The Everlywell HPV Test is an easy-to-use, at-home collection kit that includes everything you need for collecting a vaginal swab and sending it to a lab for HPV testing.
• Clinics in your community, your local Planned Parenthood, and your primary care provider or OB-GYN may all offer Pap smear or HPV tests.