Screening and triage by HPV testing. 

• To recap, if both Pap and HPV DNA tests are negative, we can repeat co-testing in 5 years - regardless of sexual history.  
  
  
• Even if my patient has a new partner or many new partners and potentially has been infected by HPV.  Even if she had a Pap-negative/HPV-negative test today, and she has a new partner tomorrow, there is no need to rescreen her for 5 years, because most infections clear in 8-9 months in women of all ages.  
  
  
• In 24 months, the majority of infections have cleared, and even if pre cancer develops, we do not see progression to invasive disease in a short period of time.  
  
  
• So, sexual history is not a factor in when women are rescreened, and if HPV is negative after co testing, it is safe then to wait 5 years.
  
  
• Finally, there is no need to resume screening in women over age 65 even if they become sexually active.