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If I Have Been Diagnosed After A Recent Smear Test
Question: if i have been diagnosed after a recent smear test having hpv high risk is this something recent i have caught
Brief Answer:
There is no way to know for sure how old an HPV infection is but the presence of cell changes in pap smear may indicate an old infection (years)
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
There is no way to know for sure how long an HPV infection has been present in the body.
In your case, if HPV was detected and the pap smear shows changes in the cells (precancer or cancer cells) present then very likely the infection has been there for some years. It takes some years for HPV to start to cause changes in the cells and generally 10-15 years to cause cancer.
So, if there are changes in the pap smear then very likely this is not a recent infection.
If HPV is detected but the pap smear is normal (no precancer or cancer cells are identified) then the infection can be recent or old.
Almost 4 in 5 women get infected with HPV during their life and not all of these women that get infected develop cell changes with time. So, HPV can be there for years and cause no symptoms or cell changes in pap smears.
To conclude:
- There is no assured way to determine how old an HPV infection is
- If there are changes in pap-smear, very likely the infection is not recent as it takes some years for HPV to cause cell changes
- If there are no cell changes in the pap smear then the infection can be recent or old.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
There is no way to know for sure how old an HPV infection is but the presence of cell changes in pap smear may indicate an old infection (years)
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
There is no way to know for sure how long an HPV infection has been present in the body.
In your case, if HPV was detected and the pap smear shows changes in the cells (precancer or cancer cells) present then very likely the infection has been there for some years. It takes some years for HPV to start to cause changes in the cells and generally 10-15 years to cause cancer.
So, if there are changes in the pap smear then very likely this is not a recent infection.
If HPV is detected but the pap smear is normal (no precancer or cancer cells are identified) then the infection can be recent or old.
Almost 4 in 5 women get infected with HPV during their life and not all of these women that get infected develop cell changes with time. So, HPV can be there for years and cause no symptoms or cell changes in pap smears.
To conclude:
- There is no assured way to determine how old an HPV infection is
- If there are changes in pap-smear, very likely the infection is not recent as it takes some years for HPV to cause cell changes
- If there are no cell changes in the pap smear then the infection can be recent or old.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
my last smear was 2007 and didnt show it up and i had a pregancy 3 years ago woud they of not picked it up. i am genunly mortified this has come about on my recent smear test and there is no abnormal cells. I am just trying to get my head round it and make sure i can confirm that my husband has cheated as it isnt me
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
It is good news that your pap smear shows no changes in the cells. You will need to have regular pap smears, as your doctor will recommend you, to make sure you monitor it and detect any potential future changes at an earlier stage.
HPV tests are quite accurate but there are many cases of results that are false-negative (showing lack of HPV but having it) or false-positive (showing the presence of HPV infection but it is not true).
I understand that when a sexually transmitted disease is suspected or diagnosed, patients consider the loyalty of their partner. Because the test results can be faulty in a few cases, it is important to not jump to a premature conclusion. The literature considers that false-positive HPV results may have psychosocial consequences, so caution should be exercised.
I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
It is good news that your pap smear shows no changes in the cells. You will need to have regular pap smears, as your doctor will recommend you, to make sure you monitor it and detect any potential future changes at an earlier stage.
HPV tests are quite accurate but there are many cases of results that are false-negative (showing lack of HPV but having it) or false-positive (showing the presence of HPV infection but it is not true).
I understand that when a sexually transmitted disease is suspected or diagnosed, patients consider the loyalty of their partner. Because the test results can be faulty in a few cases, it is important to not jump to a premature conclusion. The literature considers that false-positive HPV results may have psychosocial consequences, so caution should be exercised.
I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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