Cervical Cancer Screening Update – FNHA

Dec 05, 2023

A message from Dr. Unjali Malhotra, Office ​​​​​of the Chief Medical Officer; and Sara Pyke, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections, Community & Public Health, Collaborative Practice

​There has been a lot of media coverage recently about cervix self-screening (also known as HPV self-collection or at-home tests), including these articles: Canada to phase out Pap test for more accurate HPV detection test and What to know about at-home HPV tests now available across Canada.

What is the difference between HPV self-collection tests and Pap smears?

HPV self-collection tests are Q-tip-sized vaginal swabs you can use yourself wherever you’re most comfortable—at home, in a clinic bathroom or in a doctor’s examining room. The self-collection test is very easy to do and very accurate. If you have avoided Pap smears due to past traumatic experiences in the health care system, you may be more comfortable with this self-collection option.

Read More: https://www.fnha.ca/about/news-and-events/news/cervical-cancer-screening-update