Do You Need an HPV Test?
The human
papillomavirus (HPV), one of the
most common sexually transmitted infections,
is the leading cause of cervical cancer. HPV
affects approximately 80 percent of all adults
by the time they reach age 50.
For years, the standard procedure used by gynecologists
to detect cervical cancer has been the Pap test.
Many women believe that the Pap test is an adequate
screening test for cervical cancer, but recent
studies suggest that the Pap test alone may not
find the abnormal cells that can lead to cancer.
This is why more physicians are using a test
for HPV, in addition to a Pap test, as a screening
for cervical cancer.
What is HPV?
HPV (human
papillomavirus) is a common viral infection,
not a disease, and is usually harmless. There
are more than 100 types of HPV, divided into
low- and high-risk categories.
Low-risk HPV does not lead to cancer but may
cause dysplasia (abnormal cells in the cervix
that can lead to cancer if not treated) and/or
genital warts. There are as many as a dozen
high-risk HPV infections that are responsible
for cancer of the cervix.
Cervical cancer is almost always caused by
the human papillomavirus. There is no cure for
HPV, but since a woman’s immune system
fights off most HPV infections, there is no need
to feel alarmed if you have the virus.
Michelle
Vichnin, MD, a gynecologist with the
University of Pennsylvania Health System states, “Millions
of women are affected with HPV, yet only a few
thousand develop cervical cancer each year. It
is important to know if your HPV infection falls
into the low- or high-risk category and to have
health problems caused by the virus such as genital
warts, dysplasia or cervical cancer treated.”
Who should have an HPV test?
Not all women need an HPV test. “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the HPV test for routine screening of women age 30 years and older, when done with a Pap smear. It is also recommended that women under age 30 have the HPV test if their Pap results are uncertain,” states Dr. Vichnin.
The HPV test is performed during an annual gynecologic exam. Most insurance companies pay for routine HPV testing, along with a Pap test, for women 30 years of age and older. Dr. Vichnin continues, “HPV and Pap testing is recommended because HPV can be hidden in genital cells long after a woman was initially exposed to it.”
Risk factors for HPV exposure include
early age at first intercourse, multiple sexual
partners, and cigarette smoking. It is not
possible to determine exactly when a woman became
infected with HPV.
Why do I need an HPV test and a Pap test?
The accuracy
of the Pap test, a test that examines cells
in cervical tissue, is dependent upon the expertise
and interpretation of the clinician reading
it. Often tests are considered “abnormal” and
a woman must undergo anxious wait periods and
be retested.
The HPV test uses automated technology to detect
the presence of the HPV virus. In addition, the
HPV test can clarify certain categories of a
Pap test’s diagnosis. Thus having both
the HPV and Pap tests together offers the most
accurate results.
“A woman over age 30,
with a normal Pap test and a negative HPV test,
is 99.7 percent unlikely to develop cervical
cancer in the next three years,” notes
Dr. Vichnin. “Therefore,
the current recommendation for HPV testing is
every three years.”
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
at the University of Pennsylvania offers gynecology
and gynecologic oncology services throughout
the Philadelphia region. To make an appointment
with a Penn Ob/Gyn Care physician, call 1-800-789-PENN
(7366) or request an
appointment online.
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