Self-collection for cervical cancer screening

Image credit: drew_hays via Unsplash

Your next visit to the gynecologist might include a new alternative to the traditional Pap smear. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a self-collection method for cervical cancer screening, allowing patients to collect their own vaginal samples. This approach, combined with primary HPV testing, offers a more targeted way to detect the virus responsible for most cervical cancers. The hope is that self-collection will make screening more accessible and encourage more women to prioritize regular testing, improving early detection and prevention efforts.

Source

Landy R, Mathews C, Robertson M, Wiggins CL, McDonald YJ, Goldberg DW, Scarinci IC, Cuzick J, Sasieni PD, Wheeler CM. A state-wide population-based evaluation of cervical cancers arising during opportunistic screening in the United States. Gynecol Oncol. 2020 Nov;159(2):344-353. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.08.033. Epub 2020 Sep 22. Erratum in: Gynecol Oncol. 2021 Jun;161(3):913. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2021.04.009. Erratum in: Gynecol Oncol. 2021 Dec;163(3):614. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2021.09.020. PMID: 32977987; PMCID: PMC7594931.

Additional Reading

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/05/health/cervical-cancer-screening-self-collection-kits/index.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/15/well/pap-smear-cervical-cancer-test-alternative.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pap-smear-alternatives-what-to-know/