Changes to Cervical Screening — Important Info for Patients

Cervical screening in Australia has evolved over the past several years, but the goal remains the same: prevent cervical cancer by finding early changes before they become serious. Rather than focusing on the Pap test of the past, current screening looks for the virus that causes the vast majority of cervical cancers — human papillomavirus (HPV).

How Cervical Screening Works Now

You still have a similar examination to before — a healthcare provider will collect cells from your cervix during a pelvic exam — but what happens with that sample has changed. The test now looks first for high-risk HPV types (the infection that can lead to cell changes) instead of only looking for cell changes under a microscope.

This change means we can identify people at risk earlier and more reliably, and safely extend the interval between normal tests to five years if HPV isn’t found.

Who Should Be Screened and How Often

In Australia, if you have a cervix and are aged 25–74 years, you are recommended to have a Cervical Screening Test every five years — even if you’ve had the HPV vaccine or feel perfectly healthy.

If you have never been screened and are overdue, speak with your healthcare provider about your options — including self-collection for HPV testing in certain circumstances, which may be available.

Understanding Your Test Results

When your screening results come back, they generally fall into a few categories:

1. HPV Not Detected – “Low Risk”If the test shows HPV infection is not present, this means your risk of significant cervical changes is very low.
   👉 You’ll usually be advised to return for routine screening in 5 years.
2. HPV Detected but Not Type 16/18 – “Intermediate Risk”This means a high-risk HPV type other than the highest-risk types (16/18) was found. Your sample is often also looked at for any cell changes (cytology).

   If there are no or only low-grade cell changes, the common approach is to repeat an HPV test in about 12 months to see if the virus clears — most HPV infections do clear on their own over time.

   If HPV persists at a second repeat (e.g., at 24 months), current guidance may recommend further assessment such as colposcopy.

3.  HPV 16/18 Detected or High-Grade Cell Changes – “Higher Risk”HPV types 16 and 18 carry a higher risk of progressing to significant cell changes. Likewise, if your sample shows high-grade cell changes even without those types, you’ll usually be referred for colposcopic assessment — a closer examination of the cervix with specialised equipment.

What About Follow-Up After Abnormal Results?

If you have had previous treatment for high-grade abnormalities, current practice is to follow up more closely — often with repeat HPV testing at defined intervals (such as 12 months after treatment) until two consecutive negative results are achieved before returning to routine five-yearly screening.

Always follow your clinician’s advice on timing — the exact intervals for follow-up tests can vary based on the specific pattern of results, your age, and other individual factors.

Why These Changes Matter

• HPV testing identifies people at risk before cell changes develop.
• Extending the interval to every five years reduces unnecessary repeat testing when results are low risk.
• Having a standard approach to follow-up ensures safe and effective prevention of cancer over time.

Final Thoughts

Regular cervical screening remains one of the best tools we have to prevent cervical cancer. If you have questions about your specific results, what they mean for you, or when your next test is due, your GP or specialist is the best person to guide you.

This information is general in nature and does not replace personalised medical advice.