Home HPV Testing

Did you know that some 85% of us will get an HPV infection in our lifetime? HPV is a group of more than 150 viruses, and is spread primarily through sexual contact. (Note that it is possible to get an HPV infection through non-sexual activity, such as non-sexual skin to skin contact.)

HPV includes mostly low-risk strains (which cause warts). However, the high-risk strains are associated with an increased risk of certain cancers (cervical, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal). An HPV infection usually clears on its own within two years, but when the infection does not go away, it can lead to serious health problems. Note that early on, cases have no apparent symptoms, but that earlier detection greatly increases the chance of a cure.

There is exciting new news for women. There have long been a number of ways for a woman to reduce her own risk for cervical cancer. She can get the (very effective) HPV vaccine, use condoms, and have regular cervical cancer screening tests. Screening tests consist of a traditional Pap smear taken by a health practitioner, but only about one in four eligible women in the United States are up to date with Pap smears. For some, that might be by choice, but others face various barriers to proper care.

Note that about 60% of cervical cancer cases occur in unscreened women. If women could screen themselves at home and mail in a sample, many more women could potentially be screened. For those unable or unwilling to get a Pap smear, the FDA has recently approved an at-home screening test for cervical cancer screening, the Teal Wand. It involves swabbing the inside of the vagina, and is expected to be available in California almost immediately. It will require a virtual visit and a prescription, after which the kit is mailed to the home.

Note that this is a brand-new home test, and although in theory it is as accurate as a Pap smear that I would do in my office, the accuracy will depend in part on how well it is self-administered. My preference would always be to see a patient in person, because when I conduct a pelvic exam, I take a history, often screen for other infections, and evaluate the cervix. Also, insurance covers Pap smears in my office, and my understanding is that insurance companies are still determining whether or not they will pay for the Teal Wand test.

Despite my preference to see patients in person, there is no question that this new test will offer a valuable new option. If a woman is unable or unwilling to come into a health practitioner’s office, it is far better than no screening at all. By identifying those who might otherwise be unaware of an HPV infection, it allows more women to seek treatment, to avoid spreading HPV, and to potentially get critical earlier diagnoses of cervical cancer.