A recent study published in the JAMA Network Open found that nearly one in three US women ages 21 to 29 had never been screened for cervical cancer as of 2023.
Although cervical cancer is highly preventable through screening, the share of women who have never been screened has increased over the past two decades – due in part to care deserts, appointment availability, and insurance access.
According to data from the National Health Interview Survey, 31.9% of women ages 21 to 29 had never been screened for cervical cancer as of 2023, up from 12.5% in 2005. Among women ages 30 to 65, the share rose from 5.3% to 14.8% over the same period.
The most recent data showed many groups were disproportionately impacted – 44.3% of Asian women and 37.5% of Hispanic women in their 20s had never been screened. Meanwhile, Southern residents, uninsured women, and those without college degrees were also more likely to have never been screened.
As screening gaps persist, companies and health systems are working to expand access through at-home self-collection kits. Teal Health’s FDA-approved wand is now available nationwide, and the company recently launched a study with UC Davis to evaluate use in clinical workflows. In the UK, the NHS announced a self-collection program for women who are overdue for screening.Meanwhile, Everywell partnered with Waters Corporation to scale at-home cervical cancer screening in the US.
