HPV Testing

Your doctor may also want to test for the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a group of related viruses, a few of which are linked to changes in the cells of your cervix.

Recent studies have shown that some types of HPV cause cancer of the cervix. For this reason, your doctor may recommend that you have a genetic test that looks for certain high-risk types of the HPV known to cause cancer.

This recommendation is most often made for women over 30. Women under 30 are not good candidates for this HPV DNA test because they often test positive for HPV that will clear up on its own.

Talk to your doctor about the vaccine that is available that protects against the two types of HPV that most often lead to precancer of the cervix.