Do It Yourself HPV Screening?

A new study has determined that allowing some women to self-collect specimens for HPV screening may be effective in identifying women with high risk types of HPV. A group of nurses from British Columbia gave self collection kits to possible high risk women in homeless shelters, women's centers, and off the streets. Along with the collection kits, women were educated about the dangers of HPV and how it could lead to cervical cancer. After the women completed the self collection, they were instructed to return for a follow-up Pap smear in a year.

The participants were given a swab and were instructed to swab intravaginally and then place the swab in a collection tube. The tube was then immediately returned to a nurse where it would be sent to a lab for screening.

The study found that the women were twice as likely to have a high risk type of HPV that women in the general population. It also found that women screened were also less likely to have ever had a Pap smear.

The studies authors warn that self collection methods do not have as high if an accuracy rate as a doctor collected specimen. However, this could be a way of initially screening women who otherwise would not get screened.

Poll: Would you be more willing to be screened for HPV if you collected the specimen sample?

• Yes
• No
• View Results