Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Dec 5: In a landmark shift aimed at improving cervical cancer prevention, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has announced that women at average risk for cervical cancer can now safely screen themselves at home using approved self-test kits, eliminating the need for uncomfortable clinical procedures.

The first at-home screening test for the human papillomavirus (HPV), developed by Teal Health and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May this year, allows women to collect a vaginal sample through a simple swab. The specimen is then sent to a certified laboratory for analysis, completely avoiding the speculum-based examinations that many women find distressing.

Medical experts say the discomfort associated with traditional clinical tests has been one of the major barriers to regular screening. “Half of the women in the U.S. who have cervical cancer did not undergo a screening test in the past ten years,” noted Dr. Diane Harper of the University of Michigan, who has extensively evaluated the effectiveness of such self-collected samples.

The updated recommendations, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, state that while professional examinations remain the preferred method, self-collected samples are considered an acceptable and reliable alternative. According to ACS guidelines, women who test negative for high-risk HPV strains through self-collection should repeat the screening every three years, whereas those screened via traditional methods can wait five years before the next test.

ACS further advises that routine cervical cancer screening should begin at age 25 and continue every five years until the age of 65, provided recent test results remain negative. Screening can then be discontinued as long as there is no prior history of abnormalities.

Despite cervical cancer screening programmes having reduced incidence rates by more than half since the mid-1970s, the ACS warns that the disease continues to pose a serious threat. More than 13,000 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in the United States this year, and the illness will claim over 4,000 lives. The expansion of screening options, including another vaginal swab test approved in 2024 for use in doctors’ offices, is expected to drive early detection efforts further.

Experts also emphasise the importance of preventive vaccination. Immunisation against HPV — particularly the Gardasil vaccine from Merck administered before the age of 17 — has been associated with a striking 90 percent reduction in cervical cancer risk.

The ACS believes that the availability of home-based testing will ensure wider participation in screening programmes, helping detect infections early and saving countless lives in the years ahead.