Convenience and privacy? Yes please. HPV self-testing increases screening across the board
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- Convenience and privacy? Yes please. HPV self-testing increases screening across the board
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Which would you prefer? Doing a vaginal swab yourself? Or going in to a clinic for a cervical sample with a speculum?
The human papillomavirus (HPV) self-test is a gamechanger. Introduced in 2023, this cervical screening option is more private, convenient, and comfortable than the traditional exam with a speculum. And a new study shows women and people with a cervix have welcomed it with open arms.
Published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health journal, the study shows that offering the HPV self-test increases cervical screening uptake among everyone eligible – not just people who are underscreened.
Led by researchers from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, the study concludes that by increasing screening coverage, a universal offer of HPV self-testing will “reduce preventable morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer.”
What is HPV self-testing?
Cervical screening tests for cancer-causing strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV self-test is a new type of cervical screening introduced to Aotearoa in 2023. The other type of cervical screening is the cervical sample.
- A cervical sample (also known as a smear test). This is when a doctor or nurse uses a speculum to open your vagina and take a sample of cells from your cervix.
- An HPV self-test. This is where you take your own test using a swab to take a sample of cells from your vagina. Or a nurse or doctor can help you.
Many people prefer the HPV self-test as it’s more private, convenient, and – for some – comfortable. But it’s not right for everyone.
What type of cervical screening is best for you depends on results you’ve had from cervical screening in the past. For example, if your tests have shown you have HPV or abnormal cells, you’ll need to have a cervical sample taken. If you’ve tested positive for HPV in the past and you haven’t been told you can go back to normal screening, you may need to have a cervical sample taken.
Where can you do an HPV self-test?
If an HPV self-test is right for you, you can:
- Do it in one of our clinics
- Get it sent to you at home (if you’re eligible for free cervical screening)
- Go to your usual doctor or medical centre
- Find another cervical screening provider on Healthpoint
Find out more