Home-testing kits now available for women in England who have missed cervical screening
Summary
The NHS in England will offer nearly 4 million women who missed cervical screening the option to use HPV self-testing kits at home. These kits help detect the high-risk HPV virus, which causes most cervical cancers, and aim to increase screening rates by making the test easier and more private.Key Facts
- Around one-third of women eligible for cervical screening have recently not taken the test.
- Nearly 4 million women will receive invitations by app, text, email, or letter to order a free HPV self-test kit.
- The self-test involves using a swab to collect a vaginal sample at home, which is sent back for analysis.
- If high-risk HPV is found, women will be asked to book a follow-up cervical screening appointment.
- High-risk HPV increases cancer risk but does not mean cancer will definitely develop.
- Trials in London show the self-testing could increase screening participation by 10%, adding about 400,000 women annually.
- Women aged 24 to 64 are invited for cervical screening every five years, or more often if HPV is detected.
- The NHS aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 through vaccination and improved screening methods.
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