Cervical screening: 12% of women switch to self-swabbing in first year
The move to universal self-swabbing has encouraged more under-screened women to be tested for HPV DNA, show the latest data.
More than one in 10 women who have rescreened for cervical cancer in 2023 have made the switch to self-collected HPV swabs, according to the federal Department of Health and Aged Care.
Relaxed MBS criteria for vaginal self-swabbing — which came into effect on 1 July last year — have also encouraged more under-screened women to get tested.
The latest data obtained by AusDoc show a consistent increase in self-collection uptake from 10% to 16% across all age groups in the first full year of expanded cervical screening self-swab eligibility.
Overall, 12% of women who rescreened this year chose vaginal self-swabbing.Â
