Cervical screening and the HPV test
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Here is how the Pap smear and the HPV test work together.
Almost all cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus, HPV. It usually takes ten to fifteen years for the virus to turn healthy cells into cancer, and screening can find the changes long before that happens.
What HPV is
HPV is a very common virus passed on by skin-to-skin contact during sex. Most people who are sexually active will have it at some point, and most of the time the body clears it within two years without any harm. It becomes a problem only when certain types stay in the cells of the cervix for many years. The types that cause cervical cancer are different from the types that cause genital warts.
The two tests
- A Pap smear looks at cells from the cervix under a microscope for early changes.
- An HPV test looks for the virus itself in the same kind of sample.
How often
- From 21 to 29: a Pap smear every three years.
- From 30 to 65: if your Pap smear is normal and your HPV test is negative, you can usually wait five years before testing again.
- Your doctor may advise more frequent tests if you’ve had abnormal results before or have a weakened immune system.
The HPV vaccine
The vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers. It works best when given before a person becomes sexually active. In Jamaica it is offered to girls through schools, and adults can ask their doctor about it.
Symptoms to report
Early changes cause no symptoms. See your doctor about bleeding between periods or after sex, unusual discharge, or pain in the pelvis.