How do you know which strain of HPV you have?

An HPV DNA test can be used to help diagnose HPV infection and find out which strain of HPV you have. Certain strains of HPV put you at higher risk of developing cancer in the future. A positive or negative HPV DNA test will be used to decide on your treatment plan.

Does the HPV test tell you what strain you have?

These strains can cause cancer. HPV testing indicates whether a person is currently or has been infected with a high-risk strain, but not every HPV test identifies the specific strain of HPV causing an infection.

How do I know if I have a high risk strain of HPV?

DNA test. If you're a woman over 30, your doctor may recommend this test along with a Pap test. They look at the DNA of the cells of your cervix to see if you have the type of HPV that can lead to cancer.

Which strain of HPV is most common?

HPV 16 is the most oncogenic, accounting for almost half of all cervical cancers, and HPV 16 and 18 together account for approximately 70% of cervical cancers. HPV 6 and 11 are the most common strains associated with genital warts and are responsible for approximately 90% of these lesions.

Does a Pap smear tell you what strain of HPV?

The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for precancers, cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately. The HPV test looks for the virus (human papillomavirus) that can cause these cell changes.

The 6 things you need to know about HPV

Do I need a colposcopy if I have HPV?

If you test positive for HPV 16/18, you will need to have a colposcopy. If you test positive for HPV (but did not have genotyping performed or had genotyping and tested negative for 16/18), you will likely have a colposcopy.

How often should I get a Pap smear if I have HPV?

every 5 years with high-risk HPV testing alone. every 5 years with Pap and high-risk HPV cotesting. every 3 years with a Pap test alone.

Is HPV 16 or 18 worse?

HPV 16 is the most common high-risk type of HPV and usually doesn't result in any noticeable symptoms, even though it can bring about cervical changes. It causes 50 percent of cervical cancers worldwide. HPV 18 is another high-risk type of HPV.

Does HPV 6 and 11 go away?

HPV types 6 and 11, which are linked to genital warts, tend to grow for about 6 months, then stabilize. Sometimes, visible genital warts go away without treatment. If you need treatment, your doctor can prescribe a cream that you can use at home.

Does HPV 16 and 18 go away?

Progression depends on the type of HPV strain and on the unique characteristics of the individual who is infected. The longer the virus is present, the higher the potential for a cancer to develop. The good news is that more than 90% of HPV 16 and 18 infections go away within 6 to18 months of initial exposure.

What does a positive HPV 16 and 18 mean?

The HPV test is a screening test for cervical cancer, but the test doesn't tell you whether you have cancer. Instead, the test detects the presence of HPV , the virus that causes cervical cancer, in your system. Certain types of HPV — including types 16 and 18 — increase your cervical cancer risk.

How is HPV 16 treated?

There's no cure for HPV, no matter what gender you are. However, with regular testing, your nurse or doctor can find abnormal cells in your cervix and treat them before they turn into cancer. And most HPV infections go away on their own and don't cause any serious health problems.

What are symptoms of HPV 16?

Is there a test for HPV 6 and 11?

Human Papillomavirus Tests for Cervical Cancer Screening

Testing for nononcogenic HPV types (e.g., types 6 and 11) is not recommended (https://www.asccp.org/guidelines ). FDA-cleared HPV tests detect viral DNA or messenger RNA. Several FDA-cleared tests for HPV are available for use in the United States.

How do you know if HPV has gone away?

Most strains of HPV go away permanently without treatment. Because of this, it isn't uncommon to contract and clear the virus completely without ever knowing that you had it. HPV doesn't always cause symptoms, so the only way to be sure of your status is through regular testing. HPV screening for men isn't available.

What does it mean if your Pap is normal but HPV is positive?

Your cervical cells are normal, but you have HPV. may not fight off HPV, and HPV could cause cell changes in the future. women fight off HPV and some do not. Get another Pap and HPV test in 1 year.

Can HPV 31 go away?

How is HPV prevented and will it go away on it's own? There is no cure for HPV, but there is a vaccine — Gardasil 9, which is approved for those 9 to 26 years of age. It helps prevent six types of cancer, including cervical cancer.

Can you clear HPV and still have warts?

Although HPV isn't curable in all cases, genital warts are treatable. You can also go extended periods of time without an outbreak, but it may not be possible to get rid of the warts forever. That's because genital warts are only a symptom of HPV, which may become a chronic, lifelong infection for some.

How common is HPV 6 and 11?

The overall prevalence of HPV 6, 11, 16, or 18 infection was 8.8% (95% CI, 7.8%–10.0%).

How long does HPV 18 last?

For 90 percent of women with HPV, the condition will clear up on its own within two years. Only a small number of women who have one of the HPV strains that cause cervical cancer will ever actually develop the disease.

Is HPV 16 fatal?

Among the women with HPV 16, the overall survival was 94%, whereas this rate was 96% among those without this virus type (p = 0.663). Disease-free survival was unaffected by the presence of HPV type 16 or 18.

Can you clear HPV after 30?

There is no cure for HPV, but 70% to 90% of infections are cleared by the immune system and become undetectable. HPV peaks in young women around age of sexual debut and declines in the late 20s and 30s. But women's risk for HPV is not over yet: There is sometimes a second peak around the age of menopause.

Why don't they test for HPV under 30?

Most women and men under the age of 30 have been exposed to HPV. For most people, the virus will be suppressed by their immune system within a few years and won't turn into cancer. So we test women under 30 with the Pap test only to see if their cervix is undergoing unusual changes that could become cancer.

How long does HPV take to cause abnormal cells?

HPV-related cancers often take years to develop after getting an HPV infection. Cervical cancer usually develops over 10 or more years. There can be a long interval between being infected with HPV, the development of abnormal cells on the cervix and the development of cervical cancer.

What happens if you have HPV for 3 years?

If you still have HPV after 3 years, you may need to have a colposcopy. You'll be asked to have a colposcopy. Information: HPV is a common virus and most people will get it at some point.