Some scientists are recommending that, for women with a positive HPV test but a negative Pap smear, the proper course of action is to wait and see. In a recent study of 800 women with positive HPV tests and negative Pap smears, researchers found that 55% of women cleared the infection on their own within 6 months and 67% within 12 months. Those women for whom infection persisted a year or more were at a significantly increased risk of cervical cancer, but a positive HPV test alone in the absence of any visible changes to the cervix is something that many women are capable of handling without treatment. So, ladies, if your HPV test comes back positive, let your doctor keep an eye on your cervix, but there's a good chance that you can heal yourself.

• HPV Overview
• Should I Get an HPV Test or a Pap Smear?