Home-testing kits for cervical screening now available in England
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Home-testing kits now available for women in England who have missed cervical screening
Image source: Getty Images
By Nick Triggle, Health Correspondent
Published 5 hours ago
Women who have missed a cervical screening appointment in England are to be offered HPV self-testing kits by the NHS.
Over the next year, nearly 4 million women will receive invites via the NHS App, text message, email, or letter to order a free kit for home use.
Figures show around a third of women who are eligible for cervical cancer screening have not taken up the offer recently.
The self-testing kits are designed to get more women checked for high-risk HPV virus, which causes almost all cases of cervical cancer.
Image source: Other
Image caption: Gem Sofianos-Boorman, 39, was diagnosed with cervical cancer 11 years ago
Gem Sofianos-Boorman, 39, shares her story:
"Looking back, I truly believe that going to my screening appointment saved my life. My cancer was found early, which allowed me to have treatment before it spread. That's why it's great news that the NHS is making it more accessible for some people to take part in screening."
Cervical cancer often doesn't cause symptoms until the disease is more advanced and harder to treat.
"If you receive an invite to cervical screening, or an offer of a self-testing kit, please don't ignore it - it could save your life."
Image source: Other
Image caption: The self-testing kits will be sent to nearly 4 million women in the coming year
Dr Sue Mann, National Clinical Director for Women's Health, commented:
"Offering millions of women an alternative test they can do from the comfort of their own homes will be a game-changer – making it easier than ever for them to get tested."
The kits contain a swab similar to a long cotton bud to collect a sample from the vagina. It is then sent to the NHS for testing, and if high-risk HPV is found, individuals will be invited for a follow-up cervical screening appointment.
High-risk HPV increases the risk of cervical cancer, but it doesn't mean a woman will automatically develop it.
Trials of the self-testing in London suggest it could lead to one in 10 women coming forward for screening, boosting uptake by around 400,000 annually.
Other parts of the UK are also exploring the introduction of self-testing.
Women aged 24 to 64 are invited for cervical screening every five years, or more frequently if HPV is detected.
Through a combination of HPV vaccination, offered to teenagers, and improved screening, the NHS aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.
The NHS stresses that cervical screening appointments with a clinician are still the best way to prevent cancer, and even if you've missed an appointment, you can still come forward for one.