HealthInfo Canterbury
Understanding your cervical screening results
Te mārama ki ō hua whakamātautau waha kōpū
Cervical screening checks for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) using a swab or cervical sample (previously called a smear).
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that usually clears up by itself. But it can sometimes cause cervical cancer.
A cervical sample also find early changes to the cells of your cervix that can be treated before they progress to cervical cancer.
HPV test results
If your test finds HPV, it doesn't mean you have cervical cancer.
The results could say one of these options:
- HPV not detected. This means that HPV wasn't found, and you won't need to have another screening test for five years, or three years If you have a weak immune system (immunocompromised).
- HPV detected (may state a number). If HPV is found, you'll need to have further testing.
Cervical sample (smear) test results
A normal result will say: Negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy.
An abnormal result could say any one of these three options:
- atypical squamous cells: unknown significance (ASC-US)
- low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL)
- high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL).
Terms used
ASC-US: This is very slightly abnormal. This means there are very minor changes to the cells on the surface of your cervix.
LSIL: This means there are minor changes to the cells on your cervix.
HSIL: This means there are more serious changes to your cervix.
Next steps
If you have an abnormal result, the report will have a comment suggesting what the next steps should be.
The healthcare provider who took your test should contact you about this.
If you have any questions, ask your healthcare provider or general practice team.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Time to Screen - Results
More information about what the results of your HPV test or cervical sample mean.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed October 2022. Last updated September 2023.
Sources
Review key: HIUTR-269145
