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Jan 31, 2025, 07:21

Shahrin Ahmed: The key solutions for increasing life-saving cervical cancer screenings

Shahrin Ahmed, Medical Specialist at the Canadian Cancer Society, shared on X:

“Clue’s new survey identifies the key solutions for increasing life-saving cervical cancer screenings – Women and individuals with cycles face the most common barriers when considering cervical screenings, according to a Clue community insight survey released by the reproductive health tracking app.

Upon conducting surveys with more than 7,800 members from worldwide. Clue observed that despite experiencing anxiety during their first cervical screening, the experience improves with subsequent visits. Furthermore, the survey indicated that participants tend to be open to using self-testing options as a substitute for the traditional tests performed by healthcare providers.

The pathway towards making cervical cancer screening more accessible and comfortable is promising. Cervical cancer is still the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, especially in underdeveloped regions. The U.S. has a high prevalence of cervical cancer cases among those who have never had a Pap smear. Preventing and detecting cervical cancer early, saving lives, and improving outcomes for both women and people with a cervix globally is made possible by regular cervical cancer screenings.

The process and potential pain are often a concern for many, particularly those in younger demographics, which causes them to postpone these life-saving screenings. The importance of cervical screening is acknowledged by 90% of respondents, but significant barriers persist.

According to the survey, the top reasons for not having a cervical screening test over the age of 26 were, 32% believed that screening was unnecessary. The procedure caused a fear among 31%. There was a feeling of embarrassment among 22% and finally 20% were uncertain about their destination.

According to the survey, self-administered HPV testing is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional screening methods, and over half (51%) of respondents expressed interest in self-testing options. The use of this test was not mentioned by 18%.

During a healthcare visit or at home, individuals can choose to self-collect samples instead of being subjected to traditional cervical screening using a speculum. Screening information is still primarily sourced from healthcare providers, with 59% of it coming from internet searches and 29% from social media. The importance of medical professionals in patient comfort and education is highlighted by this.”