With a global commitment to significantly reducing cervical cancer cases by 2030 and eliminating cervical cancer as a public health issue by 2100, continued collaboration and innovation will be the key to turning the vision of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 2025 into reality.
This contribution to Tech Truster: Femtech News was written by Kicki Bajlum.
HPV testing for women over 30 in Denmark
Beginning in 2025, all women over the age of 30 in Denmark will be offered HPV (human papillomavirus) testing as part of an enhanced strategy to prevent cervical cancer.
Until now, cytology-based testing has been the standard screening method for half of this age group. Unlike HPV testing, cytology-based testing can detect abnormal cells but does not reveal the cause of the abnormality. These can result from various factors, including natural changes in the cervix during the menstrual cycle.
In contrast, HPV testing identifies whether the cells are infected with the HPV virus. This provides a clearer indication of cancer risk. This transition to primary HPV testing enhances early detection, as persistent HPV infection is the leading cause of cervical cancer.
Research and innovation in prevention
This shift also represents a significant step toward a more effective and resource-efficient cervical cancer prevention program that allows research and innovation to expand, like the upscaling opportunity in home collecting tests.
Furthermore, researchers can expand their understanding of the virus and develop improved treatment strategies through surveillance (epidemiological monitoring) of the virus.
Extended genotyping (HPV strains) provides a detailed overview of different HPV strains, allowing for risk-based management with tailored screening programs and treatment approaches. Not all HPV infections progress to cancer. Low-risk types may justify longer screening intervals.
WHO recommends testing
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends primary HPV testing as the preferred screening method, with suggested intervals of 5–10 years depending on resources and population risk. In low-risk groups, particularly where HPV vaccination coverage is high, screening intervals can be extended up to 10 years shortly.
Globally, there is a strong focus on improving access to HPV vaccines and screening programs, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Here, the incidence of cervical cancer is higher.
Target for eliminating cervical cancer
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the need to reach the “90-70-90 target” by 2030. The “90-70-90 target” serves as a framework for eliminating cervical cancer, aiming for:
- 90% of girls to be vaccinated by age 15
- 70% of women to be screened with a high-performance test by age 35
- 90% of cervical precancerous lesions and invasive cancers to be effectively treated and managed.
However, the latest report from ACCESS (Advancing Cervical Cancer Screenings), based on a roundtable discussion at EUROGIN (European Research Organization on Genital Infection and Neoplasia), highlights a decline and stagnation in cervical cancer screening participation in some high-income countries.
This trend disproportionately affects women from disadvantaged communities. Addressing these disparities requires a collective effort to improve participation and ensure equitable access to screening programs.
At-home HPV testing gives convenience
Traditionally, cervical cancer screening has required a visit to the doctor for a Pap smear. This often uncomfortable and invasive procedure discourages many from regular testing.
However, the introduction of at-home HPV tests is changing the landscape of cervical cancer detection and ensuring equitable access to screening programs. Denmark, a leader in this space, celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2024 and has been offering self-sampling kits since 2014, utilizing the Evalyn Brush to collect samples for HPV analysis.
(Read the Tech Truster article about Evalyn Brush here: At home tests offer comfort and convenience when screening for cervical cancer – TechTruster).
Self-sampling is a game changer
Both BD and Roche received FDA approval for their self-collection solutions. With the IMPACT trial, Roche validated its cervical cancer portfolio, including a diverse range of patient segments, to ensure a comprehensive assessment of its performance across various populations.
Countries like Sweden, Canada, and Australia followed suit by introducing self-sampling in their screening programs. Sweden is reporting an increase of 10% points in population test coverage after introducing at-home kits.
Companies like Nurx, Switch Health, and Teal Health also expand access by offering mail-order HPV testing kits. These kits help individuals take charge of their health from the comfort of their homes. In honor of January’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Teal Health donated $1 to the American Cancer Society for every woman and person with a cervix who pledged to get screened.
You can educate yourself about the different types of cancers women can experience with this PDF from the Foundation for Women’s Cancers.
Collecting menstrual blood
Another HPV diagnostic tool introduced in 2024 for testing in an “at-home setting ” is the Papcup. The Papcup offers an accurate and noninvasive method of collecting menstrual blood and processing a result in 15 minutes to share with healthcare providers if women choose to do so.
Collecting samples from menstrual blood offers huge opportunities to discover various markers for improving women’s health. You can read more at Qvin’s homepage.
As self-collection becomes more widely accepted, it has the potential to increase participation rates and detect HPV infection earlier, ultimately reducing cervical cancer cases worldwide. The self-sampling opportunity reduces pressure on the healthcare system by freeing up many annual consultations.
Additionally, it improves access for underserved populations, including individuals with physical disabilities, those facing cultural barriers, and transgender individuals.
Cervical cancer campaigns
Speaking of a screening program embracing all of the targeted population, Cervical Cancer Awareness Month also spotlights different awareness initiatives. Beyond technological advancements, initiatives focused on health equity are vital in encouraging cervical cancer screening.
Though the campaign was introduced in 2021, the Cerving Confidence campaign is still relevant and valuable and deserves a spot in the highlights of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. This initiative targets explicitly Black women, who experience disproportionately higher rates of cervical cancer and lower screening participation.
Cerving Confidence aims to empower women to prioritize their cervical health and spread awareness within their communities (Read more here: #CervingConfidence)
We have also seen another impactful cervical cancer awareness campaign led by 20 healthcare professionals in 20 different languages (find it here: Cervical screening awareness in multiple languages with 20 healthcare professionals.)
In addition to the multilingual approach, the video also features a “sign language” segment, serving women with hearing disabilities. This inclusive effort further emphasizes the importance of accessibility in health communication, ensuring that every woman, regardless of language disabilities, has the opportunity to take care of their health through cervical screening.
Dr. Sesay, has an entire page of educational videos about women’s health available here: https://www.talkswithdrsesay.com/health-videos
Simple message
Their message is simple but crucial: “If you are invited for a smear test, please don’t forget to book your cervical screening appointment.” Language often acts as a barrier when trying to reach all cultural groups in society, and this campaign aims to break that barrier by ensuring the message is accessible to a broader audience.
Upcoming innovation in cervical cancer
Here are a few extra facts if you’re curious to learn more about upcoming innovations in cervical cancer.
- AI-assisted cytology can be used as a triage tool after a positive high-risk HPV test to determine if a woman requires further testing or treatment. Improving cytology precision can either complement or in the future replace current biomarker tests. A new AI approach, STRIDE (Scalable Technology for Robust and Interpretable Diagnosis built on Extensive data), combines patient data with a smaller number of cell analyses to enhance diagnostic accuracy and scale to large datasets.
- Fertility-sparing treatment innovations: Treatment for high-grade precancerous cervical lesions and early-stage cancers, particularly in women of reproductive age, often focuses on preserving fertility. However, traditional local treatments, such as conization (a procedure to remove a cone-shaped section of abnormal cervical tissue), carry risks of leaving cancerous cells behind or leading to complications. To improve precision, a new study has developed a polymer-based Robotic Fiber designed for careful excision while preserving healthy cervical tissue.
These advances represent significant steps forward in both the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer, with a focus on early detection and less invasive treatment methods.
Get screened
We will continue to share insights on advancements shaping the future of cervical cancer prevention and care.
If you haven’t yet, get screened! Ask your doctor about the options available and whether you should visit your doctor or gynecologist or do an at-home test, and spread the word. Screening saves lives.
Kicki Bajlum is a trained nurse with a master’s in health and social sciences. She was a medical liaison for Roche Diagnostics in cervical cancer and engagement and community content lead at the newly launched Nordic Women’s Health Hub.