As a naturopathic physician, I am deeply committed to keeping my patients informed about the latest advancements in women’s health. Recently, during a trip to Tanzania, I met with a local female doctor who shared the stark reality faced by the many women she sees who battle advanced cervical cancer—at a rate of one in 200 women. In Canada, thanks to aggressive screening and early detection, the occurrence of cervical cancer is relatively low, affecting only about one in 10,000 women. Now, with pioneering changes in cervical cancer screening, including a transition from Pap smears to self-administered vaginal swabs, British Columbia is spearheading a monumental shift toward improved accessibility, convenience, and efficiency in detecting precancerous changes in cervical cells.
The rationale behind this transformative shift lies in the efficacy of vaginal swabs in detecting the human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary culprit behind cervical cancer. Compared to Pap smears, testing for HPV through vaginal swabs offers a more accurate and sensitive method for identifying high-risk HPV strains, empowering individuals to take proactive control of their health in the comfort of their own homes. It’s important to note that being HPV positive doesn’t inherently signify the development of cervical cancer, and not all HPV strains pose the same level of risk. Most women will have the HPV at some point in there lives. It can appear years after the time of infection and it can go away on its own.
However, a positive HPV test, especially for high-risk strains, may prompt further evaluation through a Pap smear, which I will continue to offer in my naturopathic clinic. A gynecologist can take a closer look at the cervix and do a more targeted biopsy with a procedure called a colposcopy.
The test will still be done every three years for women ages 25-69. You can stop cervix screening at age 69 if you’ve always had normal Pap tests. Talk to a health care provider if you’ve had treatment for pre-cancer cells in the past.
To learn more about the new HPV screening swab: http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/cervix
The test is done AT HOME! Every three years, you can order a kit, do the test at home, and mail it in.
To order your test kit:
https://submit.healthcarebc.ca/bccancer/cervix-screening-kit
or call 1-877-702-6566
