It’s Important! Get the HPV Test

About two years after I had Samantha I went for my yearly physical and after my PAP (I can not guarantee they did the HPV testing)  they found that I had precancerous cells on my cervix. I had to have cryosurgery done on my cervix (it’s where they freeze all the bad cells) and then went back six months later for a re-test.  If it wasn’t for the HPV testing and yearly physical/ PAP  I could have had a more serious condition.

HPV testing can identify if you have one of the “high-risk” infections on your cervix that can cause cervical cancer.  For women 30 and older, the HPV test can be performed at the same time as the Pap test to help doctors identify which women are at greatest risk.  However not all doctors automatically use both tests. 

That is why it is essential that women act as their own health advocates.  We’d like to enlist your help in a blog tour to educate others about the HPV test and helping women understand cervical cancer protection to make sure they proactively ask for the HPV test along with the Pap test.

This is something I have had done every year during my physical. We must take care of ourselves.

• THE PAP TEST looks at a sample of cells taken from a woman’s cervix for any cell changes or abnormalities. Pap testing should begin at age 21.
• THE HPV TEST is conducted from the same sample as the Pap and identifies women with high-risk HPV infections that can cause cervical cancer. When used with a Pap in women 30 and older, the HPV test increases the ability to identify who is at risk of developing cervical cancer.

 Learn about what you can do to protect yourself against cervical cancer:

• If you are age 30 or older, ask your doctor for the digene HPV Test together with your Pap test.
•  If both tests come back normal, then the tests don’t need to be repeated for 3 years. But remember to return eachyear for your annual health exam.
•  If one or both tests come back abnormal, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have cervical cancer. It simply enables your healthcare provider to monitor you more closely or treat pre-cancerous cells before cervical cancer develops.
•  HPV testing isn’t necessary for women younger than 30, because HPV infections in young women usually go away on their own without causing problems. Women under 30 will only have HPV testing if their Pap test is inconclusive.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of the QIAGEN digene HPV test. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”