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• CIN-1 - Follow up usually entails either repeat cervical cytology at 6 and 12 months or HPV DNA testing for high-risk types of HPV and a colposcopic examination. After 2 negative consecutive cervical cytology tests, or a negative DNA test for high-risk types of HPV at 12 months, it is preferred that women return to annual cytology screening.

• CIN-2 and CIN-3 - Follow up usually entails either cervical cytology or a combination of cervical cytology and colposcopy at 4-6 month intervals until at least 3 cytologic results are negative. Annual cytology follow-up is recommended thereafter.

After treatment for cervical cancer, Pap tests are recommended every 2 months for the first year, every 4 months during the second year, every 6 months in the third and fourth year after surgery, and once a year thereafter. Pap tests can be inconclusive or inaccurate if a woman has received radiation therapy because radiation causes changes in the appearance of the cells. For these women, biopsies are more reliable. Three months after the tissue damage from treatment has healed, a biopsy should reveal only normal cells.