What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Test ? Why is the test done? Everything around this, that you should know, in this post, and of course our doctors are always there to help you. Just fill in your details in the form down below and we will answer all your questions for FREE!
What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Test?
This test detects the presence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in the blood. HPV is a series of viruses that cause serious sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like genital warts, abnormal cervical cells, or cervical cancer.
Also Read: HIV
What are the symptoms of HPV infection?
HPV infects both men and women. In most cases, the infected people are asymptomatic and have no health problems.
HPV has been categorized into two types:
- Low-risk HPV
- High-risk HPV
Low-risk HPV – They do not cause any serious health problems and are represented in the form of warts on the anus and the genitals. Other symptoms include warts on the arms, hands, feet, and chest. Sometimes these warts go away on their own or can be removed.
High-risk HPV – This kind of infection does not cause any symptoms, or they go away on their own. It can lead to some serious health problems like cervical cancer. Chronic infection can lead to cancer of the other parts like the anus, vagina, penis, mouth, and throat.
Why do I need to get it done?
You should get your HPV test done if you:
Have abnormal results on your PAP smear test, having atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS)
Above 30 years of age
What is it used for?
HPV test is done to check for cervical cancer, but it doesn’t diagnose the cancer. This test detects the presence of human papillomavirus in the body, which causes cervical cancer.
Is HPV contagious?
Yes, human papillomavirus is contagious and can spread from person to person by close contact, especially sexual contact.
Is HPV-positive always contagious?
Once you’re treated for HPV infection and your immune system destroys the virus, you’re no longer the carrier of this virus.
What does the negative HPV indicate?
It means HPV is not found in your system. But you should get it done once every five years to rule out the infection.
HPV test also carries the risk of “FALSE NEGATIVE”
What does the positive test indicate?
It means HPV is present in your system. It does not indicate cervical cancer always but you’re prone to have this condition in the future. You should get other imaging tests done to diagnose the disease like a colonoscopy, biopsy, or pap smear. The results can also be “FALSE POSITIVE” which indicates you have HPV in your system when you don’t.
