A persistent infection with some types of HPV can lead to various types of cancer in women.
Cervical dysplasia is not cancer, but in some cases it develops into cancer.
Follow-up care for cervical dysplasia depends on its severity. For mild dysplasia, the doctor may recommend a repeat test for a year later to see whether the dysplasia has worsened or has disappeared on its own. For severe dysplasia, a procedure to remove the abnormal cells may be called for.
A newer test, called the HPV test, checks for the virus itself in cervical cells, not for changes in the appearance of the cells. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several different HPV tests, some of which are approved as a primary HPV test — meaning that no Pap test is needed.
If you don’t identify as a woman but do have a cervix, you should still be screened regularly for cervical HPV or dysplasia in order to detect and treat early evidence of cervical cancer.
Paying for Cervical Cancer Screening
Most health insurance plans cover recommended cervical cancer screenings, often at no cost to the individual beyond the cost of an office visit. This fee may also be waived if the tests are done as part of an annual physical exam.
Insurance plans purchased through the HealthCare.gov Marketplace must cover Pap tests and HPV tests without charging a copayment or coinsurance, as long as the screening tests are done by a healthcare provider in your plan’s network.
To see if you’re eligible for free screenings, contact a local program in your area.