Positive HPV, Negative Pap: What Do We Do Next?

When one test says “risk” and the other says “normal,” the right answer is not reassurance—it’s responsibility. The Responsibility Clause — Ethical reasoning at the crossroads of autonomy, and duty.

When it comes to cervical cancer screening, two tests work together to protect women. The HPV test looks for the presence of the human papillomavirus, a very common infection that can cause cervical cancer. High-risk HPV types, especially types 16 and 18, are responsible for most precancerous and cancerous changes of the cervix. The Pap test (or Pap sme…