Wolfscout,

You actually posed a really good question, and since I wasn't sure, off the top of my head, I checked with my doctor. According to her office, they only do a HPV test if you have an abnormal PAP test. If your last PAP screen was normal, they you are highly unlikely to have HPV. The nurse also told me something I didn't know--I'm not eligible for the vaccine. Currently, it is only indicated for women/girls ages 9-26. She also indicated that you must have a normal PAP test or take the HPV DNA test (which I think is a blood test, but I may have misunderstood).

In reading up on it online, it seems further studies are being done to push the approval age for the vaccine out to 45, but the FDA has not approved expanded limit, yet. I also found the following statistic frightening:

"HPV infection is common. About 20 million people in the U.S. are infected with HPV, and by age 50, at least 80% of women will have had an HPV infection, according to the CDC. About 9,710 cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. [and] [a]bout 3,700 U.S. women will die of cervical cancer in 2006, according to the American Cancer Society."*

However, the following was a bit more comforting:

"Most women with HPV infection don't develop cervical cancer. Reports from clinical trials, to date, show Gardasil to be safe."*

I also found out:

"[The drug company that makes the vaccine] is also continuing to research use of the vaccine in boys and men, as they can also become infected with HPV, which could lead to genital warts."*

and

"The FDA's decision doesn't automatically make the vaccine part of the CDC's recommended vaccine schedule."*

Anyway, I'm up to 4 cents, now.
(* according to WebMD)