World's first cancer screening tampon: DIY smear test that's 'extremely easy and comfortable to use' and can check for 14 strains of HPV READ MORE: Can Britain REALLY eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 as hoped? By Kate Pickles Health Editor For The Daily Mail Published: 19:01 EDT, 20 May 2024 | Updated: 19:01 EDT, 20 May 2024 e-mail View comments Women can conduct their own smear tests from home thanks to a new device which could boost screening rates. The world's first tampon test for the human papillomavirus ( HPV ) is launching in the UK this week. It is hoped the DIY screening will allow those who are too embarrassed or fear cervical screening, to get tested for the leading cause of cervical cancer .
The HPV screen is made by gynaecological health startup Daye, which has already created a similar product to test for STIs including chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Available to order for £69 online, it tests for 14 different strains of the virus, which are behind nearly all cases of cervical cancer. It is hoped the DIY screening will allow those who are too embarrassed or fear cervical screening, to get tested for the leading cause of cervical cancer .
The launch, which follows a similar test for sexually transmitted infections, comes after the NHS pledged to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. NHS cervical screening data shows uptake has steadily fallen over time from a high of just under 76 per cent in 2011 Cervical cancer symptoms to look out for include unusual vaginal bleedin.
