Screening guide › Cervical screening
Cervical screening
Ontario uses a primary HPV test for people with a cervix, from age 25, who have ever been sexually active.
- Who
- People with a cervix, age 25 and older, who have ever been sexually active, with no symptoms.
- Test
- Primary HPV test (looks for high-risk HPV types).
- Interval
- Usually 5 years after a negative result; generally 3 years for people who are immunocompromised.
- Stopping
- History-dependent: many stop after a negative HPV result at 65–69; some continue through 74.
- Not routine
- Previous abnormal result or colposcopy follow-up; symptoms.
What this page helps with
Cervical screening looks for high-risk types of HPV, the virus that causes almost all cervical cancer, in people without symptoms. This page explains who Ontario's routine program is for, how often the test is done, how stopping is decided, and how to get it. It cannot tell you whether you are due or what a result means.
Symptoms are not screening. If you have new or concerning symptoms, arrange assessment rather than a screening test. Severe or life-threatening symptoms: call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department; otherwise a provider, walk-in or urgent care clinic, or Health811 (811).
Who the routine guidance is for, and who needs another pathway
Routine screening is recommended for people with a cervix, age 25 and older, who have ever had sexual contact of any kind (with anyone, of any gender), and who have no symptoms. HPV vaccination does not remove the need for screening. A hysterectomy does not always remove the cervix — ask your provider if you are unsure.
Interval. After a negative HPV result, most people are screened again in 5 years. People with an immune-system condition or on long-term immunosuppressive treatment generally have a shorter interval — 3 years after a negative result — under Ontario program guidance. Tell your provider about these conditions.
Stopping. Many people can stop after a negative HPV result between 65 and 69, provided their history has no exceptions. Some who were not adequately screened in that window continue through 74. Stopping is confirmed from your prior results and the clinician or program plan — not from age alone.
Not routine. A previous positive HPV test, abnormal cells, or colposcopy follow-up mean your schedule is set by your clinician or the program, not the routine interval.
How to access it in Ontario
The sample is collected by a healthcare provider — a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or a clinic. If you do not have a provider, Health811 (811) can help you locate an appropriate clinician or service; it does not perform the test. Walk-in clinics, community health centres and sexual health clinics may offer screening. Self-collection options are not described here because their province-wide availability has not been verified for this release.
Potential benefits and limitations
Finding high-risk HPV allows changes to be found and treated before cancer develops; cervical cancer is largely preventable with screening. Limitations: most HPV infections clear on their own, so a positive test often leads to monitoring rather than treatment; follow-up can cause anxiety; and no test finds everything. Screening does not replace assessment of symptoms such as unusual bleeding.
What the test involves
A provider inserts a speculum and takes a small sample of cells from the cervix with a soft brush — usually a few minutes, sometimes briefly uncomfortable. The sample is tested for high-risk HPV. If high-risk HPV is found, the laboratory may also examine cervical cells from the same sample to help determine the appropriate next step.
What happens after an abnormal result
A positive HPV result does not mean cancer. Depending on the HPV type and the cell findings, the next step may be a repeat test in a shorter interval or referral for colposcopy (a closer look at the cervix). The program and your provider guide this; this page cannot interpret your result.
Questions to ask your provider
- When was my last test, what was the result, and when is the next one due?
- Does an immune-system condition or medication change my interval?
- I have had a hysterectomy — do I still have a cervix?
- I am 65–69 with a negative result — can I stop?
Sources and when they were checked
- R09 — Cervical Screening Recommendations Summary, Cancer Care Ontario / Ontario Health.