Canada is moving away from Pap tests. Here’s what you need to know – CBC

At-home HPV tests are accurate, effective and will increase access, experts say

Nov 22, 2023

Getting a Pap test can be an uncomfortable experience.

For people who have undergone sexual trauma or experienced discrimination in a doctor’s office, putting their feet into stirrups for a pelvic exam is likely even worse.

Some relief could be coming as Canada moves away from Pap smears for cervical cancer screening in favour of testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes the vast majority of cervical cancers. The HPV test has been shown to be safe and effective — plus, people can do the swab test at home.

It’s a small but mighty change that experts say will help Canada meet its goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.

“HPV testing is well-proven to be an enormous improvement in terms of detection of pre-cancers over Pap testing,” said Dr. Kim Alexander, a gynecologist in Brampton, Ont., whose expertise is in cervical cancer screening.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/the-dose-cervical-cancer-screening-1.7034098