Understanding Your Cervical Screening Results

What Your Results Mean

1. HPV Negative (Most Common)

• What it means: High-risk HPV was not found in your sample. Over 90% of people receive this result.
• The Action: This is great news. It means your risk of developing cervical cancer is very low. You will simply be invited back for your next regular screening in 5 years.

2. HPV Positive: No Cell Changes

• What it means: HPV was found. Please do not worry—this is not a diagnosis of cancer. The lab automatically checked your sample for cell changes and found none, meaning the HPV has not caused any problems.
• The Action: We will invite you back for another screening in 1 year (instead of five) to check if your body has cleared the virus on its own.

3. HPV Positive: Cell Changes Found

• What it means: HPV was found, and it may have caused some changes to your cells. Again, this does not mean it is cancer, but the cells could become cancer in the future if left untreated.
• The Action: You will be invited for a simple follow-up procedure at the hospital clinic called a colposcopy. This allows specialists to take a closer look and, if necessary, remove these cells to prevent any problems further down the line.