Say you’re due for your Cervical Screening Test at your local doctor or clinic.

You know it’s important to screen for HPV! Detecting HPV is key to preventing cervical cancer.

When doing the test, it’s really straightforward, especially now the self-swab option is available.

What isn’t so straightforward is understanding your results and the medical mumbo-jumbo that comes with it!

There are 4 major result outcomes, and each requires different responses. Here’s what they mean:

1. No HPV found = Return to screen in five years

No HPV found? Great! This is the most common result.

About 9 in 10 people screened will have no HPV found.

You can return for your next Cervical Screening Test in 5 years.

Why 5 years? Because the chance of experiencing any cervical changes in this 5-year window is low.

HPV usually takes 10-15 years to cause cell changes that lead to cancer. Testing at 5 years will detect any major changes sooner than that.

If you notice any unusual symptoms between your screening tests, speak with your doctor.

Symptoms of cervical cancer include bleeding after sex, unexplained bleeding between periods, or any bleeding after menopause.

You will receive a reminder letter a few months before your next test. Make sure your address is up to date with Medicare and the National Cancer Screening Register so you don’t miss any notifications!

2.‘Low-risk’ HPV found = Repeat the test in 12 months

If you are asked to do the test again in 12 months, a ‘low-risk’ infection has been found in your sample.

About 1 in 15 people screened will get this result.

No need to fret! Let’s unpack this result.

There are DIFFERENT TYPES OF HPV with varying risk:

• Some ‘high-risk’ HPV types could cause cervical changes that could lead to cancer.
• Other ‘low-risk’ HPV types do not lead to cancer and instead could cause common skin warts or genital warts.

When you return for your test in 12 months, your body and immune system should have cleared the ‘low-risk’ infection on its own.

If you are experiencing any symptoms before your next test, discuss them with your doctor immediately.

If you did a self-swab for your first test, you may need to have a doctor-collected test for your second test. That’s because the doctor can take a sample from your cervix to detect any further changes caused by the HPV.

After you retest in 12 months:

• If the infection is gone, you can return to screening every 5 years, or
• If HPV is still found, you may need to see a specialist.

Your doctor or nurse will explain the next steps based on your results.

3. ‘High-risk’ HPV found = Referred to specialist

In this case, your results mean an infection or major cell changes were found and may need treatment or a closer look.

Only about 1 in 50 people screened will have ‘high-risk’ HPV.

This result does not mean you have cancer.

Although ‘high-risk’ HPV infections can cause cell changes that lead to cancer, it can take a long time (10-15 years) for this to happen.

To do a closer examination, your doctor will refer you to a specialist for a colposcopy.

What can you expect with a specialist?

A colposcopy is a lot like the Cervical Screening Test. Your specialist will use a speculum and a colposcope (a magnifying device) to examine the cervix in more detail.

If the specialist notices any unusual tissue in the cervix, they may take a biopsy for testing. A biopsy means removing a small sample of skin or tissue from the body.

Specialists may treat unusual tissue and cell changes. Treatment options can range from a wire loop excision, laser, or a cone biopsy. Your specialist will discuss which treatment options are best for you.

It can be nerve wracking getting this result and going to a specialist for further investigations. You may worry about the outcomes and the potential risk to your health. However, it’s best to test and uncover these results to treat problems before it becomes cancer and keep you healthy!

Remember, your healthcare team, doctors, and specialists are here to help and take care of you. It’s important to follow their instructions of care on these procedures.

 

4. ‘Unsatisfactory’ test result

Result came back ‘unsatisfactory’?

Huh? What does that mean?

Don’t panic. Take a deep breath.

This means the lab couldn’t check your test properly. Perhaps the test couldn’t detect enough cells on the sample or experienced technical issues at the lab.

You will be asked to return for another Cervical Screening Test in 6 to 12 weeks.

Why can’t we retest immediately? Because the cells in the cervix need to renew. We can’t rush to take another sample so soon!

If you did a self-swab at your first test which had an ‘unsatisfactory’ result, you may need to have a doctor-collected test for your second test to get a thorough sample collection.

 

 

Now you know what cervical screening results look like and how to navigate them, we hope you feel ready for your next Cervical Screening Test!

Whether your results find HPV or not, remember your healthcare team is there to support you with care.

Knowledge is powerful, and understanding your results is a big step when taking charge of your health.

If you are a woman or person with a cervix, between ages 25-74, and have ever had sexual contact, remember to screen every 5 years, even if you’ve had the HPV vaccine.

For your essential guide on cervical screening, check out Own It – It’s your Cervical Screening Test.

Follow Can We and Own It for the latest news in LGBTQ health and accessible cervical screening!

For more information on cervical screening results, visit the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.