Earlier this year, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced updated screening guidelines for cervical cancer offering women ages 30–65 at average risk the option to self-collect cells for testing instead of undergoing a traditional Pap test at a medical office. These guideline changes take effect for most insurance plans in 2027. Journalists who write about women’s health could cover this update through multiple story angles; see some ideas later in this post.
While health associations expressed support of this change, some questions remain. Will women embrace the idea? Published studies have shown mixed results. And, how will it impact not only cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) rates but also annual health checkups and other health concerns that could be detected during those appointments? Those are all questions you can explore in your reporting.
What the guidelines say
HRSA’s Women’s Preventive Services Initiative recommends cervical cancer screening for average-risk women ages 21–65. For those ages 21 to 29, the agency recommends cervical cancer screening using cervical cytology (a standard Pap test) every three years. Women ages 30 to 65 should be screened for HPV using high-risk HPV (hrHPV) testing, or with cytology and hrHPV testing (co-testing) every five years. Patient-collected hrHPV testing is now considered an appropriate method and should be offered as an option for cervical cancer screening.
The guidelines also include language requiring most insurance plans to cover self-collection testing and any additional testing needed to complete the screening process, such as a biopsy or pathology studies, as of Jan. 1, 2027, Becker’s Oncology reported.
Department of Health and Human Services experts say these updates are aimed at improving screening rates and saving lives, according to a JAMA article. About half of all women diagnosed with cervical cancer have never been screened or are not up to date on screening, and are more likely to present with more advanced disease. About one in four women are not up to date on screening, and women living in poverty or with less education have even lower screening rates, the authors wrote.
In May 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first at-home screening tool for cervical cancer, the Washington Post (and other news agencies) reported: a hand-held wand that allows patients to self-collect a vaginal sample and mail it to a lab for testing for hrHPV. Other companies such as Wisp, 4U Health and STD Hero market at-home tests for HPV. But women don’t necessarily need a special tool, and can use a long cotton swab to collect vaginal cells for testing, according to the American Cancer Society.
Self-collected tests could be a viable option for people who aren’t comfortable getting a pelvic exam or who don’t have access to one, Jane Montealegre, Ph.D., an associate professor of behavioral sciences at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, told The Washington Post. “A lot of people have many, many insurmountable barriers to coming in to see their provider for screening,” she said.
In-office screening also can be distressing for patients who have experienced sexual trauma and or identify as transgender or nonbinary, STAT reported.
Associations support the change
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released a statement in favor of the updated guidelines, noting that the U.S. is falling behind in cervical cancer screening.
Available data (the majority from outside the U.S.) “support the efficacy of self-collection for primary high-risk HPV testing in certain populations,” said the statement from ACOG President Steven J. Fleischman, M.D., MBA. “Self-collected testing has the potential to expand access to screening for those who face barriers to in-office screening.” The association’s cervical cancer screening guidelines from 2021 will be updated soon, they said.
The statement also pointed to a recent study from the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology indicating that more than 70% of participants were open to the idea of self-collection, either preferring it or having no preference about self-collection versus collection by a clinician.
The American Cancer Society in December 2025 updated its guidelines, endorsing self-collected vaginal samples for cervical cancer screening, the Washington Post reported.
The American Society for Clinical Pathology said on its website that it “has long advocated for patient-centric cervical cancer screening guidelines that emphasize shared decision-making and promote broad access.”
Concerns remain
Whether women embrace this as an option remains to be seen. Over 60% of women surveyed said they preferred clinic-based testing, according to one recent study in JAMA Network Open. Among 2,300 women eligible for screening, just 20% said they would prefer home-based self-sampling and 19% were unsure. Non-Hispanic Black women had lower odds of preferring home-based sampling compared with non-Hispanic white women, and individuals who had experienced prejudice or discrimination in medical settings had higher odds of preferring self-sampling.
And, some experts are concerned the at-home option may encourage women to skip their annual health screenings, which could prevent management and treatment of a range of other health concerns, STAT reported.
Story ideas
Journalists can find many follow-up stories to the guidelines as we progress through 2026 into the start of approved self-collection next year by interviewing women and physicians about their thoughts and plans, talking to test manufacturers and clinical labs about how they’re gearing up, following the literature, or looking into how insurers will cover the tests, and how patient education will be offered to ensure quality samples.
Resources
- New Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines — HRSA
- New Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines from the US Department of Health and Human Services — JAMA
- What they are saying — HHS news release linking to news coverage and statements about the new guidelines
- Women are celebrating at-home cervical cancer screening, but might it lead them to get fewer checkups? — STAT
- Expanded cervical cancer screenings to be covered by most private insurance — Washington Post
- Women’s Preferences for Home-Based Self-Sampling or Clinic-Based Testing for Cervical Cancer Screening — a JAMA Network Open study
- In-clinic and at-home HPV self-collection test — American Cancer Society
