What Should I Expect After an HPV Positive Test?

HPV is not generally something that requires people to worry too much. If you test HPV positive, it is most likely that your health care provider will inform you that the condition is not serious and that you do not need to do anything because it is likely to go away on its own. There are some instances when being HPV positive is accompanied by cell changes in the cervix and treatment is recommended for the abnormal cells. The condition can also lead to the development of genital warts.

If you are HPV positive, you probably do not need to be too stressed. This is a very common virus that generally has no effects on a person’s life. Most people do not bear any symptoms and can lead normal lives generally and sexually. Be aware, however, that there are many types of HPV and that some of them do cause genital warts.

If your HPV infection causes you to have genital warts, do not expect a cure because there isn’t one. You may treat the warts as they appear with topical medications. There are also several procedures that allow you to have them professionally removed.

In most cases, if a woman is HPV positive but she has a normal pap smear, her health care provider will inform her that she does not need to do anything. She does not have to worry about treatment because this condition tends to disappear naturally. If, however, you are HPV positive and your pap smear was abnormal, your health care provider may want you to undergo some additional testing.

You may have heard that HPV can cause cervical cancer. Although this does not happen to most people, it is indeed possible. When it does occur, it is believed that it happens because the virus causes changes to cervical cells, and over an extended period of time this may result in the development of cancer.

The risk of cancer is so low, however, that in many cases when a person tests HPV positive and there are only slight cell changes, the health care provider will take a wait-and-see approach whereby the patient is told to do nothing and to return for another test at a later date. If you have tested HPV positive, you have an abnormal pap smear, and your cell changes are drastic, you can expect your health care provider to want to treat the abnormal cells. This will not, however, be a treatment for the virus.

It is a good idea to notify your partner if you are HPV positive because this virus can be spread by contact. Any time that a person is informed that an individual he is involved with has a virus, it can be shocking and may elicit negative reactions. This is something that you should be prepared for initially. You should explain that HPV is not usually a serious condition and take the time to provide any information that your partner needs.