United States: The general procedure for cervical cancer screenings often involves inserting a device called a speculum, helping to open the vaginal canal.
This procedure helps in taking a swab, which would be put inside and brushed against the cervix to collect a cell sample.
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All this is performed while laying back, along with feet hoisted in stirrups, in order to let the legs spread apart.
As per several women, the pap smear procedure is an uncomfortable one, rather a necessary evil for health screenings.
This year, a few healthcare companies are working on making more options in order to allow patients to skip awkward interfaces with healthcare professionals, as CBS News reported.
According to New York Times, Labs now could be able to perform tests on a sample from the vaginal walls, which is in contrast to from the cervix itself, which would bring a major change in making self-collection options a reality.
FDA approval for self-collection tests
The FDA gave approval to primary human papillomavirus, which is a self-collection test for cervical cancer screening performed in a healthcare setting.
This would allow a more conducive and private option, which also received praise from the American Cancer Society for expanding access to screening and reducing barriers.
According to Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the society, “Despite the benefits of cervical cancer screening, not all women and people with a cervix get screened regularly,” as CBS News reported.
“Most cervical cancers are found in people who have never had a cervical cancer screening test or who have not had one recently. That’s why adding self-collection in a healthcare center as a screening method for this potentially deadly disease can make a huge impact,” he continued.