Recently, we have seen several preconception counselors who were very nervous and scared when they showed up positive for HPV during a comprehensive preconception test. What is HPV? Is a positive test for cervical cancer? 1.What is HPV? HPV is the abbreviation of human papillomavirus, a very common virus that is often transmitted through sexual contact. 70% to 80% of people between 20 and 30 years old have been infected with HPV, but most of the body clears it on its own because there are no symptoms after infection, so most people have no way to know they are infected. 2.Does a positive test necessarily mean that you have a disease? There are many subtypes of HPV virus, mainly divided into two categories, one is the high-risk type and the other is the low-risk type. Most of them are low-risk types, which will disappear on their own after infection. Some “high-risk” HPV types do not disappear on their own and may cause changes in the cells of the cervix, resulting in atypical hyperplasia and cervical cancer, but this process sometimes takes 10-20 years. In most cases, cervical cancer will be HPV positive, but it is rare to see cervical cancer, especially for women under 30 years old. 3.What should I do if I am positive? The important thing in the treatment of HPV is to cure the disease rather than to kill the virus. By treating the disease rather than the virus, we mean treating the disease when HPV infection causes lesions. If the test is simply positive and has not yet caused a lesion, the key is regular review rather than overtreatment. HPV-infected patients should use condoms during observation or conservative treatment to prevent cross-infection or reinfection. They should also adjust their immunity, including exercise, nutrition, regularity of life, adjustment of mind, reduction of mental stress and burden, and healthy and hygienic sex life. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of HPV positive, but you need to remember to check regularly, reduce stress and hygiene, and clear it on your own with good results.