American women can now perform pap smears on their own in the restroom without the supervision of a gynecologist, making the test much more comfortable.
FDA has approved DIY swabs. This allows patients to take the test themselves at a pharmacy or “pop-up” clinic and then give it to a health care professional for testing.
This test takes less than 30 seconds and checks for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is usually transmitted through sexual activity and causes 95% of cervical cancers.
Until now, women had to undergo a short swab test at a gynecologist's office, which many women felt uncomfortable and inconvenienced.
To meet its 2030 Healthy Population Goal, the NIH aims to have 84% of American women screened for cervical cancer each year. In 2021, only 72% of women were up to date on their Pap smears.
Human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause mutations in cells in the vagina. In some cases, this can lead to the development of cervical cancer. Doctors say it's important to have regular pap smears.
This innovation is expected to make life-saving testing more accessible and less painful for women.
“It's about reaching women that we haven't been able to reach before,” said Dr. Jeff Andrews, a gynecologist and president of medical affairs at BD, one of the companies behind one of the approved tests. told USA Today.
At this time, these tests are only approved for use in doctor's offices, pharmacies, or mobile clinics.
But the drug companies behind the two approved tests plan to create at-home versions in the future.
At-home tests have so far been approved in Australia, the UK, the Netherlands and other European countries.
Previously, pap smears were performed only by gynecologists to look for abnormal changes in cells that could indicate cancer.
Some doctors also test for HPV because it has been shown to be a very accurate indicator of cervical cancer risk.
This test is performed by placing a long brush and flat spatula in a woman's vagina near the cervix and brushing the instrument to collect cells.
According to Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, this is uncomfortable for most women, but can also be painful for other women who have a tilted cervix.
If your cells are abnormal or your HPV test is positive, you will be invited back for further testing.
But the latest data shows that one-third of American women missed their cervical cancer screening deadline in 2021.
The NIH reports that the main reason for this is a lack of education about how often testing is needed, with nearly half of women not knowing they needed it.
Approximately 11,500 U.S. women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,000 die from cervical cancer each year.
According to the CDC, having regular Pap smears can prevent the development of about 93% of these cancers.
However, DIY tests only look for HPV. Multiple international studies have found that HPV testing is as effective as a regular Pap smear in preventing cervical cancer.
A 2021 study of home HPV testing in the UK found that 99 per cent of 19,000 women were able to effectively perform a self-swab test.
DIY testing is therefore “a game-changer for cervical screening,” said Dr. Anita Lim, an epidemiologist at King's College London.
After the doctor or technician performs the DIY test on the patient, they go to the bathroom, insert a long cotton swab-like device into the vagina, and rotate it three times.
The test results are then taken back to your doctor or pharmacist and sent for analysis.
“This literally just opens up another option for different demographics of people who may not feel comfortable or may not have access.” [and] Eileen O. Anniye, chief scientific officer at the Women's Health Research Association, told The Washington Post that people may not have time to get tested.
Traditionally, a Pap smear is performed by a doctor using a long brush or cotton swab and a flat, blunt spatula. These new tests are designed for personal use.
If your doctor finds HPV, you will undergo other tests to look for abnormal or mutated cells that, if left untreated, can lead to cancer.
If abnormal cells are detected, the patient undergoes a gentle procedure in which the cells are cut or burned away.
Or, if the risk of change is determined to be low, your doctor may choose to monitor you instead.
“The goal for other cancers is early detection and treatment. The goal for cervical cancer is to find precancerous cells, treat them, and ensure they never become cancer,” Dr. Andrews said.
HPV is incredibly common, with about 8 out of 10 women infected with the virus at some point in their lives, said Dr. Konstantin Zakashansky, a gynecologic oncologist at Mount Sinai Hospital.
However, of the 40 strains of genital HPV, only two are more likely to cause cancer, which accounts for about 10% of women infected with HPV, according to the CDC.
Importantly, Dr. Anne-Marie Amys Oelschlager, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington and president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, told USA Today that the new test does not replace the role of the gynecologist. he said.
Instead, “these tests are a way to figure out who needs additional testing and who can safely wait before repeating the test.”