Understanding Your Cervical Screen Results

Key Information

The Goal: Waiting for your cervical screening results can bring up feelings of anxiety. This guide explains what your results mean so you know exactly what to expect.

What We Look For: The first thing your result will tell you is whether a virus called high-risk HPV was found in your sample.

About HPV: HPV is extremely common. Most of the time, our bodies clear it without any issue. However, sometimes it can cause cell changes that, over many years, can develop into cancer. This screening is designed to find those changes early.

What Your Results Mean

Your results will fall into one of three categories:

1. HPV Negative (Most Common)

What it means: High-risk HPV was not found in your sample. Over 90% of people receive this result.
The Action: This is great news. It means your risk of developing cervical cancer is very low. You will simply be invited back for your next regular screening in 5 years.

2. HPV Positive: No Cell Changes

What it means: HPV was found. Please do not worry—this is not a diagnosis of cancer. The lab automatically checked your sample for cell changes and found none, meaning the HPV hasn't caused any problems.
The Action: We will invite you back for another screening in 1 year (instead of five) to check if your body has cleared the virus on its own.

3. HPV Positive: Cell Changes Found

What it means: HPV was found, and it may have caused some changes to your cells. Again, this does not mean it is cancer, but the cells could become cancer in the future if left untreated.
The Action: You will be invited for a simple follow-up procedure at the hospital clinic called a colposcopy. This allows specialists to take a closer look and, if necessary, remove these cells to prevent any problems further down the line.

Page last reviewed: 12 April 2026
Page created: 12 April 2026

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Understanding Your Cervical Screen Results

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