Less invasive self-administered pap smear now available

Women are known to dread getting a pap smear . While it’s recommended only every three to five years now, depending on age, the cervical cancer screening is known to be invasive, uncomfortable, and often just downright painful. However, new technology is changing that.

The first shipments of self-collection human papillomavirus, or HPV tests , are now arriving at doctors’ offices across the country. The FDA just approved the tests in May, which require patients to gather their own sample with a swab while in a health care setting like the doctor’s office, urgent care or pharmacy clinic.

According to the National Cancer Institute, about one in five women in the U.S. is overdue for cervical cancer screening .

Cervical cancer has been identified as one of the top preventable causes of death in the nation, and HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , more than 11,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year and about 4,000 women die of the disease annually. One study found about two-thirds of cervical cancers are diagnosed in women who are not screened within the recommended interval .

According to a USA Today report , the self-administered swab tests will cost the same amount as a traditional pelvic exam. Right now, two companies make the self-administered HPV screening tests .

Under the Affordable Care Act , insurers are required to cover the costs of cervical cancer screening.

Getting vaccinated against HPV can also help. There are more than 150 strains of the virus, and the vaccine is proven to protect against the nine riskiest strains.

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