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Osnaživanje, stil i inspiracija spajaju se u svakom izdanju našeg magazina.
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January 22, 2026
If you are between 30 and 65 years old, the third week of January deserves a special mark in your calendar — it’s the ideal time for a gynecological check-up. This year, in addition to the Pap test, we are also performing an HPV test — and here’s why.
HPV is an abbreviation commonly used to describe a large group of more than 200 sexually transmitted viruses. Their full name is human papillomavirus, and in recent years they have been in the spotlight because certain types — most notably HPV 16 and 18 — have been proven to cause cervical cancer. This is precisely why the HPV test should become part of your routine cervical cancer screening.
The HPV test is used in cervical cancer screening, but it does not look for existing cellular changes or diagnose cancer. Instead, it detects the root cause of cervical cancer — the HPV virus itself. According to gynecologists’ recommendations, the right time to start HPV testing is in your thirties.
The test itself is simple and very similar to a Pap test. A gynecologist takes a cervical swab, which is then analyzed in a laboratory. The results are clear and unambiguous: they show whether you are infected with HPV and which type is present. In cervical cancer screening, special attention is given to high-risk types 16 and 18.
Unlike the Pap test, the HPV test does not detect changes on the cervix — it detects the virus. This means it cannot determine whether you have cancer or what stage it might be in; it only indicates whether you carry a virus that could potentially cause disease at some point in your life. Could — but does not necessarily have to.
That is why even a positive HPV result is not a reason to panic. A positive test simply means an increased risk and the need for closer monitoring. In such cases, Pap tests are usually recommended every three to six months, depending on your gynecologist’s advice. Still, this does not mean you will inevitably develop cancer. In many women, the disease never develops.
The Pap test examines cervical cells under a microscope to detect abnormal, precancerous, or cancerous changes.
The HPV test detects the DNA of the human papillomavirus in cervical cells.
The Pap test shows whether cellular changes are already present, but not necessarily whether a virus is involved. The HPV test shows whether a woman is infected and which type of virus is present, particularly high-risk types.
Pap testing usually begins at age 21 and is done annually or as recommended by a doctor. HPV testing is most often performed together with the Pap test in women over 30, or as follow-up diagnostics after an abnormal Pap result.
HPV testing is recommended for all sexually active women between the ages of 25 and 65. After the age of 30, many gynecologists believe it should be performed at least once a year, alongside the Pap test. The test is especially important if you:
have had unclear Pap results (ASC-US / CIN IIIa),
have cervical erosions or other precancerous changes,
are living with HIV or other sexually transmitted infections,
are in an open relationship or frequently change partners,
have a history of abnormal Pap tests,
have undergone an organ transplant.
Yes. Although both tests aim at early detection of cervical cancer, they do not show the same things. A normal Pap result does not mean you do not carry HPV or that you are not in a high-risk group. The Pap test shows whether cellular changes have already occurred, but not what caused them or whether a virus is present. The HPV test answers that question.
No. Just as the Pap test cannot determine whether you have HPV, the HPV test cannot show whether the virus is active or whether cancer has begun to develop. These two tests are most effective when used together — one detects the virus, the other checks whether disease-related changes have started.
First and most importantly: you are not alone. Research shows that around 80% of sexually active people will contract HPV at some point in their lives. The good news is that being HPV-positive does not mean you will develop cancer. In most people, the immune system clears the virus within two years. A smaller number develop mild conditions such as genital warts, and only a very small percentage develop cervical cancer. The specific HPV type plays a major role in prognosis, which is why gynecologists recommend closer follow-up and provide guidance regarding sexual health and partner protection. A repeat HPV test is usually done after two years to see whether the virus has cleared.
Yes — the HPV vaccine can still be beneficial even if HPV has already been detected, but it is important to understand that it does not treat an existing infection. If the virus is already present, the vaccine will not eliminate it or reverse existing cervical changes. This often leads to the misconception that vaccination is pointless in such cases — which is not true. The vaccine protects against other HPV types you may not have been exposed to yet. Most women are infected with one or a few types, not all. Modern vaccines (such as the nine-valent vaccine) cover multiple high-risk and low-risk types, including those most commonly associated with cervical cancer, like types 16 and 18. As a result, vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of future infections and new cervical changes. Studies also show that vaccination after HPV infection or treatment for cervical lesions can reduce the risk of recurrence, which is why it is recommended in many countries even after abnormal Pap results or treatment.
Not on demand — but the HPV test has recently become part of the national cervical cancer screening program and can be done once every three years at public health centers. It is available at:
The Institute of Public Health “Dr Milan Jovanović Batut” (Belgrade), including weekend services
Public health centers, within women’s health services
Private laboratories such as Aqualab, Labomedica, and others, where HPV testing (detection and genotyping) is often offered as part of a gynecological check-up package with a Pap test, or as a separate paid service
