New Ways to Check for Cervical Cancer: What You Need to Know

Cervical cancer screening just got a big update. Now, women have more choices. They can use a self-swab HPV test. This test is easier and less invasive than the old Pap test. The American Cancer Society says this change could help more women get checked regularly. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a big deal. It's linked to almost all cervical cancers. Testing for HPV is now the preferred way to screen for cervical cancer. The old Pap test involved a speculum exam, which many women found uncomfortable. The new self-swab test is different. Women can collect their own sample. They can do this in a doctor's office or even at home. The FDA has approved three self-administered HPV tests. One of these tests can be done at home. Women can mail their sample to a lab for analysis. This makes the process more convenient. It might encourage more women to get screened. Cervical cancer rates have been dropping in the U. S. since the 1970s. This is thanks to better screening and the HPV vaccine. But still, many women aren't up to date on their screenings. The self-swab test could change that. The American Cancer Society and the U. S. Preventive Services Task Force both recommend HPV testing every 5 years. If the test is positive, more testing will follow. They also say women can use a Pap test every 3 years or both methods every 5 years. There's a difference in when to start screening. The American Cancer Society says women should start at age 25. The task force says age 30. But both agree that self-swab tests are a good option. The updated guidelines also clarify when women can stop screening. If a woman has had consistent negative results for at least 10 years, she can stop at age 65. This is important for women to know. It gives them a clear timeline for their health. Experts think screening intervals might get longer in the future. In highly vaccinated populations, screening every 10 years might be enough. But the U. S. is behind on this. More needs to be done to catch up.