Why your next trip to the gyno might be different: There's an alternative to Pap smears

The first shipments of self-collection HPV tests for cervical cancer screening are headed to doctors’ offices in the United States. Patients now have the option to collect their own vaginal samples for screenings, making it more accessible. Two health care businesses, Roche and BD, have developed HPV tests that can be used with self-collected samples. The hope is to reach more women who were previously underscreened or unscreened. Cervical cancer is usually caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), and early detection through screening is crucial for treatment. The self-collection method may eventually be available for home use.