Have You Heard of the New Pap Smear Alternative?

Did you know that the way in which a Pap smear is conducted has remained largely unchanged since the 1940s? This is of course because it works - cervical cancer rates have dropped drastically since the implementation of the screening test - however, it is also exciting to look towards the future. Scientists have developed a new form of cervical cancer screening, a Pap smear alternative, and it is about to become available. 

A Pap Smear Alternative

The new Pap smear alternative is a swab method, one in which a woman can administer herself in office, without the need for a speculum. Similar to urine tests, the swab is done in the doctor’s office, and then sent to a lab for testing. 

Though this method of testing is new to us, researchers have been developing and testing its success for two decades. The test received FDA approval back in May of this year, and it will be available in doctors' offices this fall. 

And looking ahead, researchers are working on the approval of at-home swab testing, which would require a doctor’s orders, but make it extremely accessible and much more comfortable for women to stay current with their cervical cancer screenings. This method is still being reviewed by the FDA, but could be approved as soon as early 2025. Several countries, including Australia, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands have already approved and introduced at-home cervical cancer screening and are seeing great success. This is very exciting!     

Why it Matters

The fact that there will (very) soon be an alternative to the Pap smear is a big deal for several reasons. First, the Pap smear test is uncomfortable and/or traumatic to many women, therefore causing women to avoid it or put it off. 

Second, and even more impactful, the new method will make cervical cancer screening much more accessible than it currently is. Women living in rural areas with less access to healthcare are underscreened right now, as are women with lower socioeconomic status and Black and Latina women. Women with health insurance are four times more likely to get screened than women without.

Though the implementation of the Pap smear decreased cervical cancer deaths significantly, the decline has leveled off in recent years. This is due to the screening gap. With the addition of an at-home screening option, the opportunity to increase screening and therefore decrease deaths by cervical cancer is incredible.  

As a cancer survivor myself, this news is enormously hopeful. I have written before about the importance of genetic testing to screen for cancer, but this option, the new Pap smear alternative, is going to make screening (for cervical cancer at least) so much more accessible. 

The World Health Organization has a goal of eradicating cervical cancer, and it is so exciting to see scientists developing ways to maybe actually meet that goal.  

Looking for a Cancer Coach?

If you or someone in your life is living with a cancer diagnosis, sometimes it’s helpful to have someone to talk to. If this sounds like something you need, I encourage you to reach out to me!