Less invasive self-administered pap smear now available

IT’S A NECESSARY EVIL MANY WOMEN DREAD: GETTING A PAP SMEAR. 

WHILE IT’S RECOMMENDED ONLY EVERY THREE TO FIVE YEARS NOW, DEPENDING ON AGE – THE CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING IS KNOWN TO BE INVASIVE, UNCOMFORTABLE, AND OFTEN JUST DOWNRIGHT PAINFUL. 

BUT NEW TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING THAT.

THE FIRST SHIPMENTS OF SELF-COLLECTION HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS – OR  H-P-V – TESTS ARE NOW ARRIVING AT DOCTORS’ OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 

THE F-D-A JUST APPROVED THE TESTS IN MAY – WHICH REQUIRE PATIENTS USING A SWAB TO GATHER THEIR OWN SAMPLE WHILE IN A HEALTH CARE SETTING… LIKE  THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE, URGENT CARE, OR PHARMACY CLINIC.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE – ABOUT ONE IN FIVE WOMEN IN THE U-S IS OVERDUE FOR CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING. 

CERVICAL CANCER HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE TOP *PREVENTABLE* CAUSES OF DEATH IN THE NATION. 

H-P-V IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF CERVICAL CANCER.

ACCORDING TO THE C-D-C – MORE THAN 11-THOUSAND NEW CASES OF CERVICAL CANCER ARE DIAGNOSED IN THE U-S EVERY YEAR… 

AND ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND WOMEN DIE OF THE DISEASE ANNUALLY. 

ONE STUDY FOUND ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF CERVICAL CANCERS ARE DIAGNOSED IN WOMEN WHO ARE *NOT* SCREENED WITHIN THE RECOMMENDED INTERVAL.

ACCORDING TO A U-S-A TODAY REPORT – THE SELF-ADMINISTERED SWAB TESTS WILL COST THE SAME AMOUNT AS A TRADITIONAL PELVIC EXAM. 

RIGHT NOW, TWO COMPANIES MAKE THE SELF-ADMINISTERED H-P-V SCREENING TESTS. 

UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT – INSURERS ARE REQUIRED TO COVER THE COSTS OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING. 

GETTING VACCINATED AGAINST H-P-V CAN ALSO HELP. 

THERE ARE MORE THAN 150 STRAINS OF THE VIRUS… BUT THE VACCINE IS PROVEN TO PROTECT AGAINST THE NINE RISKIEST STRAINS.