An influential health panel has recommended that women should have the option of taking their own test samples for cervical cancer screening. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has issued draft recommendations to encourage more women to get screened and raise awareness that women can self-collect vaginal samples to check for cancer-causing HPV.
According to the panel, women in their 20s should still undergo a Pap test every three years. However, from ages 30 to 65, women have the option of getting an HPV test every five years. These HPV tests can be conducted using samples collected either by a healthcare provider or by the patient herself in a mobile clinic or medical office. Women aged 30 to 65 can also choose to have a Pap test done by a doctor every three years.
The task force believes that self-collection could lead to more women getting screened, ultimately reducing the burden of cervical cancer. Studies have shown that women and healthcare providers achieve similar accuracy in sample collection.
HPV, a common virus spread through sexual contact, can lead to cervical cancer if left untreated. The HPV tests detect high-risk types of the virus, while a Pap test looks for abnormal cells in the cervix.
Several countries, including Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, already utilize self-collection for cervical cancer screening. In the U.S., deaths from cervical cancer have decreased over the past decade, thanks in part to the HPV vaccine recommended for preteens.
Despite progress, nearly 14,000 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. this year, with around 4,360 deaths. Certain groups, such as Black, Native American, and Hispanic women, as well as those in isolated areas, continue to have higher death rates compared to white women.
For many individuals, self-collection may offer a more comfortable alternative to traditional screenings involving stirrups and speculums. The draft recommendations largely align with the task force's previous guidelines, specifying that women under 21 and over 65 with normal screening results may not need to be screened for cervical cancer.
The recommendations are open for public comment until January 13.
