Cancer Research UK (CRUK) shared on LinkedIn:
“NHS England will be rolling out HPV self testing kits to help more women take part in cervical screening.
It’s been announced today that some 30-to-65-year-olds who haven’t attended cervical screening when invited will now have the option to do their own test for high-risk HPV at home.
HPV self-testing will be rolled out in phases across England, and around 4 million invites will be sent out in the initial phase.
Eligible women will be invited to order a free HPV self-testing kit, which includes a vaginal swab, which is then sent in the post to the NHS for free. The sample will be tested for high-risk HPV, which causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer.
There are many reasons why some women might not attend their cervical screening.
These can include fear, embarrassment, worries about pain, difficulties attending their appointment and cultural barriers.
HPV self-testing can help reduce some of these barriers so more people can take part.
It’s still best to have your screening done by a nurse or doctor where possible. But HPV self-testing is an additional option for women who might otherwise not take part in cervical screening.
For more information about cervical screening, talk to your GP or visit.”
You can also read: Cervical Cancer Screening’s Global Evolution: From Pap Smears to HPV Testing
