Getting tested for HPV happens during a routine cervical screening at your doctor’s office, a gynecologist, or a community health clinic. The test itself takes only a few minutes and uses a soft brush to collect cells from the cervix. However, there is no approved general HPV test for men, and testing options vary significantly depending on your age, sex, and the part of the body you’re concerned about.
What the Test Involves
An HPV test and a Pap test are collected in almost the same way. You lie on an exam table, your provider inserts a speculum to see the cervix, and then uses a soft brush to gently sweep cells from its surface. The difference is what happens in the lab. A Pap test examines those cells under a microscope looking for abnormal changes. An HPV test analyzes the DNA in those same cells to detect the virus itself and identify which type you have.
Your provider may order one test or both together (called co-testing), depending on your age and screening history. The sample collection feels the same either way, and results typically come back within one to three weeks.
Who Should Get Screened, and How Often
Current guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force break screening into two age groups:
- Ages 21 to 29: A Pap test alone every 3 years. HPV-only testing is not recommended in this age range because HPV infections are extremely common in younger people and usually clear on their own.
- Ages 30 to 65: You have three options: a Pap test alone every 3 years, an HPV test alone every 5 years, or co-testing (both together) every 5 years.
Screening is not recommended before age 21, even if you’re sexually active. After age 65, most people can stop screening if their recent results have been consistently normal. Your provider may adjust this timeline if you have a history of abnormal results or other risk factors.
What the HPV Test Detects
Standard HPV screening tests look for 14 high-risk strains of the virus that are linked to cancer. These include HPV 16 and HPV 18, which together cause the majority of cervical cancers. The FDA-approved tests used in most labs can flag these two strains individually while also detecting the other 12 high-risk types as a group. Low-risk HPV strains, the kind that cause genital warts, are not included in routine screening because they don’t lead to cancer.
How to Prepare
A few things can interfere with accurate results. For two days before your appointment, avoid vaginal intercourse, douching, and any vaginal creams, foams, or spermicidal products. These can wash away or obscure the cells the test needs to analyze.
Try to schedule your test for a time when you’re not on your period. It’s possible to do the test during menstruation, but results are more reliable when there’s no menstrual blood mixed with the sample. If you’re having irregular bleeding that isn’t part of your normal cycle, don’t delay your appointment because of it.
Testing for Men
There is currently no approved HPV test for men. The CDC does not recommend HPV screening for males in any age group. This isn’t because men don’t get HPV (most sexually active people contract it at some point) but because no reliable test exists to screen for it on penile skin, and the virus often clears without causing problems.
If a man develops visible genital warts, a provider can usually diagnose them by visual exam alone. For anal concerns, some specialists offer anal Pap tests for men at higher risk of anal cancer, particularly men who have sex with men or those living with HIV, though this is not part of standard screening guidelines.
Oral HPV Testing
There is no approved HPV test for the mouth or throat. This is a gap that researchers are actively working on, since HPV-related throat cancers are rising. Early-stage research has explored combining oral rinse tests with blood-based markers and ultrasound imaging to detect these cancers earlier, but this approach is still experimental. The biomarkers show promising sensitivity at the point of cancer diagnosis, but their accuracy for catching infections before cancer develops remains uncertain.
For now, dentists and doctors may spot suspicious lesions during routine exams, but there’s no screening test you can request specifically for oral HPV.
What Happens If You Test Positive
A positive HPV result means high-risk HPV DNA was found in your cervical cells. It does not mean you have cancer or will develop it. Most HPV infections resolve on their own within one to two years without causing any harm.
What your provider recommends next depends on more than just that single result. Updated clinical guidelines use a risk-based approach that factors in your previous screening results, whether you’ve ever been treated for precancerous cervical changes, and your age. Based on your overall risk level, you may be asked to return for a repeat HPV test in one or three years, or you may be referred for a colposcopy, a closer examination of the cervix using a magnifying instrument, sometimes with a small biopsy to check for precancerous changes.
If your HPV test is positive but your Pap results are normal, the most common next step is simply retesting in a year to see if the infection has cleared.
Cost and Where to Go
Most private and government insurance plans cover cervical cancer screening as part of a wellness exam at no out-of-pocket cost to you. Without insurance, an HPV test typically runs between $30 and $200 depending on the clinic and lab. Community health centers and Planned Parenthood locations often offer sliding-scale pricing, with some charging as little as $30.
At-home HPV test kits are also available, averaging around $75 without insurance and $62 with coverage. These kits involve collecting your own vaginal swab and mailing it to a lab. They can be a convenient option if you’re uncomfortable with an in-office exam or have limited access to a provider, though a positive result will still require an in-person follow-up.
The CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides free or low-cost cervical screening to people who are uninsured or underinsured. You can find a participating provider through your state health department.