January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
Good news for anyone with a cervix! New federal guidelines make it easier to test for cervical cancer.
According to new guidelines adopted by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in January 2026, high-risk HPV testing has been identified as the preferred first step for cervical cancer screening. The new HRSA guidelines include the option of a self-collection kit so women can test at home for high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) – which cause more than 90% of all cervical cancers.
The new HRSA guidelines require self-collection test kits to be covered by private insurance starting January 2027, but some insurance plans already cover them and you can use HSA or FSA funds.
Why HPV testing at home is important
HPV is a common virus that almost everyone is exposed to during sex at some point in their life. Many people’s bodies can clear the virus on their own, but for some, the high-risk strains of the virus can lead to abnormal cells that turn into cancer.
HPV testing is extremely important because detecting HPV before it turns into cancer can prevent cervical cancer from developing. And if it does form, early detection is crucial, as the 5-year survival rate for cervical cancer is 90% when caught early. After the spread, this rate drops to 20%.
For more than seven decades, cervical cancer screening was based solely on the Pap test, invented in 1941 (which hasn’t changed much since then). Pap tests, which require the use of a speculum so that a healthcare provider (HCP) can collect samples, detect abnormal cells that may be precancerous or cancerous. But in 2014, HPV testing was approved as a screening test to detect the presence of the virus before it even spreads into abnormal cells.
In-office HPV testing still uses the same invasive and uncomfortable speculum as the Pap test and requires a visit to your HCP. This can be particularly daunting for women who have experienced sexual trauma in the past, have difficulty coming to the exam table, or do not have easy access to health care. The pain and inconvenience of these tests often result in delayed or missed tests. In fact, according to the CDC, one in four women in the U.S. are not up to date on their cervical screening.
New self-collection HPV tests offer the convenience and privacy of at-home testing and use a sponge-like tool to wipe the vagina – no stirrups or speculum required. Self-collection test kits are an additional option aimed at increasing access and attractiveness for those women who are deterred by in-office screening methods. Traditional Pap and HPV tests are still available.
It’s important to note that when self-testing for HPV, you must use an FDA-approved device obtained with a prescription from a healthcare provider. And if you have an unusual result, you will need to contact an HCP for further testing.
HPV screening guidelines
The new HRSA guidelines recommend that average-risk women between the ages of 30 and 65 receive a high-risk HPV test every five years. Nothing changed for women aged 21 to 29. You are recommended to have a Pap test every three years.
However, guidelines regarding who should be screened for cervical cancer, how and how often, vary from organization to organization. Therefore, it is important to speak to your HCP about what type of screening is best for you.
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