What to know about new self-collection options for cervical cancer screenings

(InvestigateTV) — Groundbreaking developments in cervical cancer screening are giving women new options that could expand access to lifesaving early detection.

FDA-approved self-collection HPV tests are now being hailed by some experts as game-changing tools in the fight against a disease that claims more than 4,000 American women’s lives each year.

These innovations are coming at a critical time.

According to the CDC, about half of the women who develop cervical cancer weren’t screened as recommended before their diagnosis.

An American Cancer Society study published in 2025 shows cervical cancer screening rates have dropped 14% since 2019, a decline that began during the COVID pandemic and has yet to rebound.

Survivor’s story highlights the importance of screening

Toni Cooper Towler knows firsthand the life-altering impact of early detection.

In October 2017, she received a devastating phone call while at work.

“I answered, and she said, ‘Miss Cooper, I regret to inform you that we have detected you have cervical cancer. Stage two,’” Towler said.

As a mother of three young children, the diagnosis was terrifying.

“I was really scared because it was just me, you know, and I had three people depending on me,” she said.

Towler shares her story as a proud cervical cancer survivor and advocate. Her cancer was caught early during a routine Pap smear, underscoring the importance of regular screening.

“Everyone needs to know about it. Everyone needs to know the damage it can do. But also everyone needs to know you can minimize the damage if you just get yourself checked,” Towler said.

Breaking down barriers to screening

Traditional cervical cancer screening involves either a Pap smear or HPV test, both conducted in a doctor’s office using a speculum to scrape cells from the cervix.

While highly effective, these procedures can be uncomfortable and create barriers for some women.

“Maybe they don’t have insurance, perhaps they just don’t have access to healthcare. Another thing can be something as simple as can you get time away from work? What about transportation, if your clinic is not nearby?” explained Fred Wyand with the National Cervical Cancer Coalition.

“And shame and stigma. Cervical cancer screening, for a lot of patients, understandably, can be awkward. It can be off-putting.”

In May 2024, the FDA approved self-collection HPV tests for use in healthcare settings.

Patients can now choose to use a kit containing a small swab or brush to collect their own vaginal sample in a private room, rather than having a doctor do it for them.

After that, it would be sent to a lab for HPV testing. If the test comes back positive, there would be a follow-up appointment so the patient can talk next steps with the doctor.

Dr. Kathy MacLaughlin, a Mayo Clinic family physician who specializes in cervical cancer prevention, believes the self-collection test is less invasive than traditional screening methods. She says she’s already seeing a lot of patients choose that option.

“And these are really people that I truly believe would otherwise not have been screened,” MacLaughlin said.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has also endorsed self-collection for cervical cancer screening, noting in its draft recommendation that studies show this option is just as accurate as clinician-collected samples.

At-home testing becomes reality

In May 2025, the FDA took another significant step by approving the first-ever at-home alternative to the Pap smear.

The test, developed by Teal Health and called the “teal wand,” can be prescribed virtually and mailed directly to patients’ homes. The company has said its goal is to eventually get to the point where the test is covered by insurance companies nationwide.

Experts emphasize that self-collection tests cannot replace regular doctor appointments for follow-up care and other health needs.

The HPV vaccine, first introduced in the U.S. in 2006, remains another crucial prevention tool. More than 135 million doses have been administered since then.

The American Cancer Society recommends parents discuss HPV vaccination with their doctor for children between the ages of nine and 12.

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