Del Mistro A, Rossi PG, Frayle H, et al. - In this population-based cohort study, women with a transient high-risk HPV infection were examined for the 5-year risk of high-grade lesions. In the setting of HPV primary testing within population-based organized cervical cancer screening programmes, immediate colposcopy or HPV repeat at 12 months was advised on the basis of the cytology triage performed on HPV-positive women. Collection of data at the subsequent round 3 to 4 years after HPV infection clearance was performed. Researchers performed an analysis of data on 1,230 women (1,027 aged 25-64 years and 203 aged 35-64 years). In round two, relative to HPV-negative women, those with a transient HPV infection had a higher proportions of HPV positivity (15% vs 3.7%) and of CIN2+ lesions (0.87% vs 0.23%); CIN2 was detected in most of these (7/10); CIN3 was identified in 3/1,230 (0.24%); cancers were not identified. Long intervals for HPV-negative women were suggested based on HPV-based protocols for cervical cancer screening; monitoring the women with transient high-risk HPV infection for the clinical outcome is identified as important. Five-year intervals may provide reasonable protection, however, no recommendations for longer intervals are made.