The cervix (formally known as the neck of the womb) is an opening between the womb (uterus) and vagina. Cervix cancer damages the internal cells of the cervix, affecting the overall production system. Numerous studies prove that high-risk strains of HPV (human papillomavirus) infection are potentially responsible for most cervical cancers. More than 13% of women with HPV in Sweden have a higher chance of developing cervix cancer.
When your body is exposed to HPV infection, the body’s immune system prevents the virus from harming your reproductive system. The long-term survival of the HPV virus transforms some cervix cells into cancer cells. Women can lower the risks of getting cervical cancer by receiving HPV vaccination and ensuring screening tests.
Seek immediate medical assistance if you notice pain during intercourse, pelvic pain, bloody vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding after menopause-all these conditions may signify cervix cancer.
Link Between HPV Self-Sampling and Cervical Cancer
HPV self-sampling solutions can accurately identify the strains of high-risk HPV. It can also provide precise insights about the CIN2+ (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2). Numerous studies prove that HPV self-sampling is a productive and organized approach to increasing cervical screening uptake.
The HPV self-sampling solutions have dramatically reduced cervical cancer rates in Sweden. A cancer specialist at the Karolinska Institute of Sweden said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the country could not provide women with adequate cervix cancer screening facilities. The country professionals decided to send the HPV-self sampling kits to the women already having a screening test for cervical cancer. He added that we sent 330,000 HPV self-sampling kits to Stockholm. Within a year, we saw a drastic increase in the number of women involved in regular cervix cancer screening.
HPV Self-Sampling Kits
HPV self-sampling kits are inexpensive, simple, and easy-to-use tools that can help women collect their specimens. A new meta-analysis highlighted that in Sweden, women using self-sampling HPV infection kits to collect their vaginal samples for HPV testing are more likely to receive cervix cancer screening.
Cervix cancer has become one of the leading causes of death among women in the middle- and low-income countries. The women in low-income countries don’t have access to HPV vaccination, facing the worsened symptoms of HPV-related cancers. Early detection of HPV infection can play a key role in reducing women’s cervix cancer burden.
Professor Dillner (a cancer specialist) points out that women in Sweden are twice as likely to seek cervical cancer screening if they have access to HPV self-sampling kits compared to those who rely on standard practices.
Even in developed countries, attending regular cervix cancer screening can be difficult for many women. Numerous factors, such as traumatic experience, physical disability, or lack of adequate screening equipment, can prevent women from being diagnosed with the early-stage symptoms of HPV infection. Self-sampling HPV solutions enable women to take the test into their hands and collect their vaginal samples in the privacy of their homes.
Sweden and others are moving to HPV primary testing in the cervix cancer screening programs. HPV (human papillomavirus) infection is responsible for 99.7% of cervical cancer cases worldwide. So testing/screening for HPV is essential to identify those with higher chances of developing cervix cancer!
HPV self-sampling enables women to get the attention they need to treat the early-stage symptoms of cervix cancer and avoid further complications. HPV self-sampling solutions are the best winners in providing the most accurate results.
The Bottom Line
Across Sweden, HPV self-sampling has boosted the elimination of cervix cancer. Numerous factors, such as physical disability, lack of time, embracement, and difficulty getting appointments for cervix screening, might cause women to avoid standard cervical screening. Self-sampling solutions enable women to collect their vaginal specimens in the privacy of their homes and get accurate results.
