Can my wife have HPV persistence with a normal colposcopy?

Question

Hi doctor,

My wife's Pap smear test and HPV test showed CIN1 and HPV 16 positive three years back. Two years back, the colposcopy was normal. One month back, Pap smear test and HPV test were repeated. The result was negative for HPV, but the Pap smear showed some changes and abnormalities. Could you please give an opinion regarding the latest results?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

HPV (human papillomavirus) is a virus that can cause cervical cancer. It can occasionally infect, and the body clears it up by normal immune defense mechanisms; if that fails, subtle changes can happen at the cervix, which over the years can progress into cancer.

However, from your history three years back, it was HPV positive with mild cervical changes, but the colposcopy after a year was normal. So there is nothing much to worry about. I suggest doing routine HPV DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing and Pap smear, called co-testing, should be done once in three years.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have gone through the reports (the attachments were removed to protect the patient's identity).

With these results of negative HPV and mild cervicitis and no dysplasia seen in the Pap smear, I suggest you repeat co-testing (HPV and Pap) every three years.

Regards.