NHS England have revealed thousands of women will benefit from at-home cervical cancer screening tests. However, some details have evoked negative reactions.
Available from January 2026, the DIY test kits have been earmarked for women who have delayed going to the doctors for their smear test. The box, which is said to arrive in ‘discreet packaging’, contains a long cotton-wool bud to swab the lining of the vagina.
A smear test is conducted to check for human papillomavirus (HP), which is what can cause most cervical cancers. The test, which is offered to women between the ages of 25 and 64, is vital because if HP is detected early, then some cancer cases ca be avoided.
News of the at-home kits has come after recent government figures showed more than five million women aren’t up to date with their smear tests. As it stands, just 68.8% of women attend their cervical cancer screening – well below the NHS target of 80%.
According to the research, young women, individuals with a disability, LGBTQ+ groups and those from an ethnic minority background are more likely to miss appointments.
‘We know the earlier cancer is diagnosed the better the chances of survival,’ health secretary Wes Streeting, said. ‘By making screening more convenient, we’re tackling the barriers that keep millions of women from potentially life-saving tests.’
The latest clinical trial of the tests found that the kits, across England, could increase the number of women screened to 77% over the next three years.
Commenting on the announcement, Ruth Healey, president of Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI), said:’In light of the announcement on the rollout of at-home cervical screening tests in England, we strongly welcome this important step forward in empowering women to take charge of their own health.
‘With only 68.8% of women currently attending cervical screenings, and with the largest untested group comprising 25 to 34-year-old women, this initiative could play a vital role in increasing screenings for HPV – and therefore saving women from developing cervical cancer.’
‘However, our concern is that at-home-testing kits are only going to be provided to those women who have a history of not taking up their screening appointments,’ Ruth continued. ‘This could result in women who are routinely attending their appointments, now waiting until self-testing becomes available to them, thereby putting themselves at potential risk.
‘We’re keen for public health policy to strike the right balance to protect the health needs of all women.’
According to the NHS, symptoms of cervical cancer include:
- Changes to vaginal discharge
- Unusual vaginal bleeding, including during or after sex, between periods, or having a heavier period than normal
- Pain during sex or in the lower back, tummy or pelvis.
If you or someone you know is experiencing these then speak to your GP as soon as possible.
Photo by Angiola Harry via UnSplash and Ruth Healey
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