Dear Mayo Clinic: Cervical cancer and HPV screening

By Cynthia Weiss

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Since age 20, I have had annual visits with a gynecologist. I am now in my late 30s, and my physician recommended that I get an HPV test in addition to a Pap test to check for cervical cancer. What is the importance of both? And what is my risk of cervical cancer?

ANSWER: Screening for cervical cancer can cause a lot of confusion because guidelines and tests have evolved over the years.

A Pap test is an important screening exam that’s used to check for abnormal cells on the cervix that could indicate early-stage cervical cancer or precancerous cells. The test for human papillomavirus, or HPV, also is important because if you have that virus, it raises your risk for developing cervical cancer. Knowing if you have HPV or not can inform and direct your health care in the future.

Cervical cancer occurs in the lower part of the uterus known as the cervix, which connects the uterus to the vagina. The most common types of cervical cancer are squamous cell carcinoma — occurring in squamous cells, which line the outer part of the cervix — and adenocarcinoma, which develops in glandular cells in the cervical canal.

Anyone with a cervix is at risk of developing cervical cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S. Hispanic women have the highest rates of developing the disease, while African American women are at greatest risk of dying from this cancer.

Additional risk factors for cervical cancer include:

• Multiple sexual partners
• Sexual activity at a young age
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Weakened immune system
• Smoking

Numerous strains of HPV infection play a role in causing almost all cervical cancer. Many women’s immune systems combat HPV, preventing the virus from causing cancer. However, some women are more susceptible to cervical cancer as HPV lives in their bodies for years and aids in the emergence of cancer cells.

Historically, women often have visited with a gynecologist or other health specialist annually to have a Pap test, which involves collecting and examining cells from the cervix. If the test finds abnormal cells, additional tests to look further for precancerous or cancerous cells may be recommended.

More recently, HPV testing has been recommended for women — along with the Pap exam — as it can provide useful information about a person's risk for cervical cancer. This is particularly important since most women will not experience any signs of cervical cancer in early stages.

An HPV test can be done at the same time as a Pap test and uses the same cell sample collected for the Pap test. The HPV test doesn’t tell you whether you have cancer. Instead, it detects the presence of HPV in your body. If you have HPV — particularly the two common subtypes that are most closely linked to cervical cancer — then you are at higher risk for developing cervical cancer. Knowing that, you and your health care team can decide how often you need Pap tests and other tests to monitor your condition going forward.

Not all types of HPV increase the risk of cervical cancer, and if you are found to have an HPV infection, it is important to note that it does not mean you will develop cervical cancer.

The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that are most likely to cause cervical cancer. The vaccine works better when given to girls starting at age 9, but it has now been approved for women up to 45. Depending upon your risk factors, if you have not previously received the vaccine, it may be valuable for you.

How often you need a Pap test and an HPV test depends on your individual situation. In general, the recommendation is to have both tests done every five years for women older than 30 who haven’t had an abnormal Pap test in the past. That may shift, however, depending on your medical history, as well as other health issues you may have. Talk with your health care team about the schedule that’s best for you. — Tri Dinh, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida

Learn more

Learn more about the HPV test, the Pap test and cervical cancer.

Also read these articles:

• "Why black women need to be screened for cervical cancer"
• "4 ways to reduce cervical cancer risk"
• "Dear Mayo Clinic: Adults up to age 45 and at risk for HPV infection can get vaccine"

A version of this article was originally published on the Mayo Clinic News Network.