American women now have the option of cervical cancer screening at home, using recently approved self-collection tools. While experts hope this will increase reliance on the under-screened population, a first-of-its-kind study by researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that the majority (60.8%) still prefer to see a healthcare professional in-clinic.
The study, published today in Open JAMA Networkalso found that marginalized people were more likely to prefer home self-sampling, and that low-income women and those who did not trust the health system were more likely to be unsure which option to choose. Of 2,300 women eligible for screening, only 20.4% preferred to undergo cervical cancer screening at home, and 18.8% were unsure of their choice.
Home self-collection has the potential to eliminate many of the barriers women face when it comes to cervical cancer screening. By expanding screening options and pairing them with targeted education, we can enable more women to participate in screening in a way that fits their lives.
Sanjay Shete, Ph.D., main author, deputy division head of cancer prevention and population sciences
Is it still useful to offer home self-collection tools?
Although cervical cancer screening rates have increased over the past 25 years, since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a shift towards decreasing annual screening coverage. Experts say there is still a need to improve cervical cancer screening among underscreened populations, and this study suggests these groups would benefit from options that best match their preferences.
In the study, black women were less likely than white women to prefer at-home self-collection over in-clinic testing. On the other hand, people who were overdue for screening were most likely to prefer home kits, as were those who had experienced bias or discrimination when getting medical care. The most cited reasons for preferring home self-sampling were confidentiality (54.9%), time constraints (35.1%), and avoiding embarrassment (33.4%).
The Health Resources and Services Administration and the American Cancer Society have both adopted home self-collection for cervical cancer screening.
“Leading medical and public health organizations should consider updating their recommendations to include at-home self-sampling. This policy change could play a critical role in reducing testing inequities and improving participation among historically underserved populations,” said co-author Joël Fokom Domgue, MD, principal investigator in epidemiology.
How was the study conducted?
This cross-sectional study was based on data from the 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults in the civilian population. This study included all women aged 21 to 65 years who responded to the survey and were eligible for cervical cancer screening according to US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. Individuals were also required to have answered cervical cancer screening questions.
Limitations of the study include the cross-sectional nature of HINTS, a lack of familiarity with new home screening kits, the fact that the FDA did not approve the self-collection tool at the time of the HINTS survey, and that screening data and history were not collected as part of HINTS..
date:2026-02-08 02:41:00