Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide, but it is highly preventable and treatable when diagnosed early.
The Pap test is the most common screening test for cervical cancer, but it is only recommended for women over the age of 21. For women under 21, there is no recommended screening test for cervical cancer.
However, there is a new at-home test that can detect cervical cancer in women under 50. The test is called the HPV test, and it is available over-the-counter at most pharmacies.
How to test cervical cancer at home:
- Collect a sample of cells from your cervix. You can do this by using the cotton swab that is provided in the test kit.
- Put the sample in the vial that is provided in the test kit.
- Mail the vial to the laboratory.
- The laboratory will test the sample for HPV.
- You will receive your results in the mail within a few weeks.
Benefits of at-home cervical cancer testing:
- Convenience: You can test yourself in the privacy of your own home.
- Cost-effective: The HPV test is available over-the-counter at most pharmacies.
- Accurate: The HPV test is a very accurate test for detecting cervical cancer.
- Early detection: The HPV test can detect cervical cancer at an early stage, when it is most treatable.
Risks of at-home cervical cancer testing:
- False positives: The HPV test can sometimes produce a false positive result, which means that the test indicates that you have cervical cancer when you do not.
- False negatives: The HPV test can also sometimes produce a false negative result, which means that the test indicates that you do not have cervical cancer when you do.
- Inaccuracy: The HPV test is not as accurate as the Pap test, which is the recommended screening test for cervical cancer for women over the age of 21.
