What does it mean to have abnormal Pap but negative HPV?
What does it mean to have abnormal Pap but negative HPV?
A normal (or “negative”) result means that no cell changes were found on your cervix. This is good news. But you still need to get Pap tests in the future. New cell changes can still form on your cervix. Your doctor may tell you that you can wait three years for your next screening test if you received a Pap test only.
Can you have abnormal cells with negative HPV?
Most people will not have HPV (an HPV negative result). This means your risk of getting cervical cancer is very low. You do not need any further tests to check for abnormal cervical cells, even if you have had these in the past.
What causes Ascus Pap smear with negative HPV?
The most common causes of ASCUS Pap smear results are noncancerous (benign) conditions, such as infections or inflammation. These conditions can cause cervical cells to appear abnormal. Eventually, however, most cells return to a normal appearance with time.
Can you be HPV negative and get cervical cancer?
Approximately 5.5–11% of all cervical cancers are reported to be HPV-negative, which can be attributed to truly negative and false-negative results. The truly HPV-negative cervical cancers are almost all cervical adenocarcinomas with unclear etiology.
Can you test negative for HPV if it is dormant?
This is because HPV may remain dormant (“hidden”) in the cervical cells for months or even many years. While dormant, the virus is inactive; it won’t be detected by testing and will not spread or cause any problems.
What happens if you have HPV for more than 2 years?
HPV can cause cervical and other cancers including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause cancer in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (called oropharyngeal cancer). Cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV.
Can HPV be positive and then negative?
In short, yes, it is possible to be HPV positive and then become HPV negative. It is possible that a test you carried out for HPV many years ago might have been positive, and then your recent tests for HPV came back as negative with no trace of HPV.
What if my Pap smear shows ascus and HPV?
A pap smear that has atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and human papillovirus (HPV) listed on it generally means that the patient has ASCUS on her cervix; however, HPV is suspected as the cause for the atypical cell appearance. Whenever HPV is present, ASCUS is a co-existent condition .
What does HPV negative mean?
The term “HPV negative” means that a female likely does not have the human papillomavirus virus, which may cause cervical cancer in some women.
What are atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance?
Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance ( ASCUS ) is a mildly abnormal reading that may occur when a woman gets a PAP smear. Sometimes abnormal squamous cells are found, but their presence don’t clearly indicate that there is cancerous or a precancerous state.