I'm here to tell you the truth - you can get this test covered by insurance, and it's a good idea to find out what type you need.

I've always wondered why some people still think you can only get a HPV test done for free by paying for it.

I'm living proof that you can get these tests done for free in a regular state clinic. I had a HPV test in 2014 and a test for the type in 2025, both without any extra payments.

This review is about my experience with the HPV test, specifically for types 16 and 18.

What's the big deal about HPV?

HPV is a serious infection, but having it in your body doesn't harm you. However, if your immune system is weakened, you might get warts or papillomas. But if you think about it, any virus - like herpes or ringworm - is just a harmless virus floating around in your body. It's only when your immune system is down that the virus can cause problems.

I found out I had HPV when I went to the gynecologist for a pregnancy check-up. Back then, they didn't do the typing test, but I've since learned that I have a positive HPV test and cervical erosion. Together, if you have the oncogenic type of HPV, it can lead to some pretty bad consequences. But if you get regular check-ups and keep an eye on it, you can catch any problems early on and treat them quickly.

I decided to get the typing test after my friend had a second bout of precancerous cells. She has cervical erosion, just like me, and she tested positive for HPV types 16 and 18. Hearing her stories about the painful treatments she's had to undergo to get rid of it made me realize I should get checked out too. When I went to see my gynecologist, she was more than happy to give me the test for the two types of HPV, 16 and 18. She even took some extra tests for infections, even though I've never had any issues. She even took a Pap smear, which I'm not a fan of calling that, but I wrote it anyway.

Is it free or covered by OMS?

I'll be honest, I'd recommend paying for this analysis, at least because it's more hygienic. Why do I think my analysis wasn't taken hygienically? Check out the photo for yourself. I hadn't even sat down on that chair yet, but when I approached it, there were used instruments from the woman who came in before me under it in the bag. The legs were covered in spots that indicated the presence of HPV. Those are just tiny pink annoying spots, they flare up when a person's immune system is compromised. As someone who's an allergist, my immune system is pretty strong, so I've never had any issues with it. I found out I had it during pregnancy, and thankfully, I've never noticed any symptoms since then.

And, of course, I think the HPV test isn't that expensive. As far as I know, a comprehensive test costs between 5,000 to 10,000 rubles, maybe 15,000. And compared to many other tests that cost tens and hundreds of thousands, it's not a huge sum. Plus, it's not a huge sum if you're going to go through the whole process without knowing what to expect and without wasting a ton of money. And with all the bloggers and doctors on social media telling people to get checked out and live a healthier lifestyle, I think not everyone needs to be taken seriously in terms of their expertise. They can still influence people's minds, at least to the extent that they'll think about whether everything is okay with them and go get checked out. For myself, this hobby has become a real one, and my body has been checked out more than most people living in Moscow, probably. (Or maybe even all over Russia, but I've never lived in other regions, so I won't spread misinformation.)

I've been really worried about HPV lately, and it's the same virus that can be prevented. If you don't have it, you can get vaccinated for free from around 12 to 18 or 20 years old. I went to clarify about this vaccination, and they told me it's too late for me to get vaccinated because I already have the virus. Apparently, I've had it since birth, and it's not something you can cure or get rid of. The only thing you can do is use immunomodulators if it gets worse, which costs around 6-8 thousand rubles. That's about it. All I can do is get checked and hope for the best, and not let my immune system drop.

My Results

I won't beat around the bush - here are my results. Unfortunately, I don't have the results of my first analysis because the polyclinic lost my medical records. I've tried to get them back, but it's been impossible. So, I don't have any records of my childhood vaccinations or any illnesses I've had, and all the information I do have is from 2020-2021. Everything else was deleted by the polyclinic staff, and I'm left with nothing. I did have an HPV test for types 16 and 18, and I'll show you the results first. Here's the result for type 16:

As you can see, it's positive, but it's not the end of the world. The only thing I need to do is get regular check-ups and tests to make sure everything is okay. It's not a big deal, but it's something I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life.

As you can see from the test results, I don't have type 18, which is a good thing. Having one type doesn't necessarily mean you'll develop cancer or pre-cancerous cells. It's usually when you have both types 16 and 18 that you're more likely to have problems. And in my case, the situation is not as bad as it could be.

Honestly, I don't think it's something to be ashamed of if you test positive for this virus. I don't think any health issue should be stigmatizing or define a person. For me, it's really important to understand how my body works, what's going on, and where potential problems might arise. I believe being informed means being empowered.

As for the testing process, I think after getting the results, the gynecologist just prescribes immunomodulators without much thought. In my case, I consulted with a few other doctors who said there's no proven effectiveness of these treatments. To be honest, there's still no proof that they work, so it's up to me to decide whether to buy them or not. When they were prescribed to me, I was dealing with stomach erosion, and I didn't even think about them. To this day, I haven't bought them, and I don't think I need to, since I couldn't find any evidence that they actually help.

My take.

Personally, I think it's better to pay for the test. Not because it would be more accurate, but because it would be taken more hygienically, at the very least. Plus, it would be taken more comfortably, because my visits to the gynecologist in the public clinic are always accompanied by people asking when I'm going to have kids. Who cares about the source of the money or the people involved, but the constant pressure really gets under my skin. As for the test, I think it's important, and I think it's great that it's available for free under the OMS program. However, if I knew the process would be so uncomfortable and unhygienic, I would have gladly paid for it. Still, getting tested is a must, especially if there are any underlying conditions that could affect your quality of life in the future.