Women in England who have missed a cervical screening appointment will soon be able to request a free HPV self-testing kit from the NHS. Over the next year, nearly four million women are expected to receive invitations through the NHS App, text message, email, or post, allowing them to order a kit and take a sample at home, the health service said.
The initiative is designed to increase screening uptake among the roughly one-third of eligible women who have not recently taken up the offer. The self-test checks for high-risk strains of HPV, the virus responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer. Women aged 24 to 64 are normally invited for screening every five years, or more frequently if HPV is detected.
Health officials hope the kits will overcome common reasons for skipping screening, such as embarrassment, lack of time, or concerns about discomfort. Dr Sue Mann, national clinical director for women’s health, described the home testing option as a game-changer that provides a discreet and convenient alternative. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said cervical cancer is preventable and the move is about making it as easy as possible for women to stay up to date.
The article highlights the case of Gem Sofianos-Boorman, 39, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer at 28 following screening. She said she believed the appointment saved her life because the cancer was found early enough to be treated before it spread. She underwent surgery to remove cancerous cells and lymph nodes from her abdomen and pelvis. Cervical cancer often causes no symptoms until the disease is more advanced and harder to treat.
Each self-test kit contains a swab, similar to a long cotton bud, used to collect a sample from the vagina. The sample is sent back to the NHS, and if high-risk HPV is found, the person will be invited to book a follow-up cervical screening appointment. High-risk HPV increases the risk of cervical cancer, but it does not mean a woman will automatically develop the disease.
Trials in London suggest the self-tests could encourage one in ten women who would not otherwise attend to come forward, potentially boosting uptake by around 400,000 screenings a year. Other parts of the UK are also considering introducing self-testing. The NHS still advises that cervical screening with a clinician is the best way to prevent cancer, and women who missed an appointment can still book one. Combined with HPV vaccination for teenagers and improved screening, the NHS hopes to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.