Pap Smear and HPV Test (Cervical Screening)

Cervical screening checks the neck of the womb for the changes that come before cervical cancer. The Pap smear (Papanicolaou test) looks at cells brushed from the cervix under a microscope. The HPV test looks for high-risk types of human papillomavirus, the infection that causes nearly all cervical cancers. Both use the same sample, and many programmes now test for HPV first.

Regular screening prevents most cervical cancers, because abnormal cells take years to progress and can be treated simply. It is a test for women without symptoms. It is not a test for ovarian or womb cancer, and it does not replace examination if you have bleeding after sex, between periods or after the menopause.

What Pap Smear and HPV Test (Cervical Screening) shows

Cytology reports whether cells are normal or show changes graded as ASC-US, LSIL (low grade), ASC-H, HSIL (high grade) or glandular abnormalities, and can incidentally show infections such as thrush or trichomonas. HPV testing reports whether any high-risk type is present, often naming types 16 and 18 separately because they carry the highest risk. A negative HPV test is very reassuring for at least 5 years. A positive HPV test with normal cells usually means a repeat in 12 months, since most infections clear by themselves. Abnormal cells, or persistent HPV, lead to colposcopy.

When Pap Smear and HPV Test (Cervical Screening) is recommended

• Women and anyone with a cervix from age 25 (21 in some countries) to about 65
• Every 3 years with cytology alone, or every 5 years with HPV-based screening, according to national guidance
• More often for women with HIV or on immunosuppressive treatment
• Follow-up after treatment for abnormal cells (test of cure)
• Women who have had the HPV vaccine, who still need screening

Limits and situations where another test is better:

• Under 21 to 25, where transient changes are common and screening does more harm than good
• After total hysterectomy for benign disease, when no cervix remains
• During a period, as blood can obscure the cells; mid-cycle is ideal
• Symptoms such as abnormal bleeding or a visible abnormality on the cervix require examination and colposcopy, whatever the smear result
• Heavy vaginal infection, which is treated first

How to prepare

• Book for a day when you are not bleeding
• Avoid sex, vaginal creams, lubricants, pessaries and douching for 24 to 48 hours beforehand
• Tell the clinician the date of your last period, any hormones or coil, and previous abnormal results
• Ask for a smaller speculum or extra lubrication if you have found the test painful before, particularly after the menopause

What happens during the test

You undress from the waist down and lie on a couch with your knees bent. A speculum is gently inserted to see the cervix, and a soft brush is rotated against it for a few seconds, then rinsed into a vial of liquid. It takes about 5 minutes overall. It can feel uncomfortable or strange but should not be painful. You can ask for it to stop at any point.

Results and next steps

Results take from a few days to 2 weeks. If you are travelling, ask for the report in English and for the laboratory method, so that your doctor at home can fit it into local follow-up rules. Most results are normal. About 1 in 20 needs a repeat test or colposcopy, and the great majority of those do not have cancer.

• Test time: About 5 minutes
• Results ready: A few days to 2 weeks
• Back to everyday activity: None

Safety and risks

• Light spotting for a few hours afterwards
• Brief discomfort
• False negatives, which is why screening is repeated at regular intervals
• False positives or detection of changes that would have cleared, leading to anxiety and further procedures
• An inadequate sample needing a repeat after 3 months

Arranging Pap Smear and HPV Test (Cervical Screening) in Türkiye

Not worth a journey in itself, but easily included in a women's check-up or a gynaecology visit before other treatment. What matters is continuity: keep the written result and make sure any recommended repeat or colposcopy actually happens at home.

Send your previous reports and the question you want answered and a Clinic-Y coordinator replies within 24 hours with suitable teams and written, all-inclusive proposals side by side. Reviewing your case is free.

Frequently Asked Questions