What Is Self-Collection for Cervical Cancer Screening?

If you’ve delayed or avoided cervical cancer screening appointments, you may be interested in a newly approved testing option. With self-collection, you’ll be able to collect your own screening sample in the clinic or even in the privacy of your own home.

In 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new option for self-collection of vaginal samples as part of routine cervical cancer screening. Following this approval in late 2025, the American Cancer Society (ACS) announced updates to its Guideline for Cervical Cancer Screening. One big change is the option to self-collect a sample for screening instead of having the test done by your health care provider.

“Self-testing for cervical cancer screening is a way that people can test themselves privately in the comfort of their own homes. This type of testing is being used more because it has been shown to be highly accurate and easy for patients to perform on their own,” said Merry Jennifer Markham, MD, FASCO, an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) expert and gynecologic medical oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center.

ACS recommends that all people with a cervix who are at average risk for cervical cancer start screening at age 25. Screening should continue until at least age 65.

What is self-collection?

Self-collection means swabbing your vagina to get a sample of cells to test in the lab. In this case, the sample is used to test for HPV (human papillomavirus), the virus that causes almost all cervical cancers. An HPV test is the preferred way to screen for cervical cancer.

To collect a sample, your provider will order the screening test and give you a kit or the needed supplies. While there are several HPV tests with self-collection options available, they are not all FDA-approved. Only tests and collection kits approved by the FDA should be used. These are only available through your health care provider.

Once you have the supplies and understand the instructions, you can do this either at home or in a private area at your provider’s office. You’ll insert a long, soft cotton swab inside your vagina to gently brush and collect cells for the sample. If you collect the sample at home, you’ll be instructed how to package and mail it to the lab for testing. If you collect the sample at your provider’s office, they’ll send it to the lab for you.

What are the guideline recommendations for self-collection?

In the past, cervical cancer screening was done only using a Pap test (also called a Pap smear). However, more recent research has found that most cervical cancers are caused by HPV and a Pap test can’t detect HPV. A Pap test looks for abnormal changes in your cervix that may be pre-cancer or cancer.

HPV testing has been part of the ACS screening guidelines since 2003. In 2012, the ACS guideline update recommended HPV and Pap co-testing every 5 years as the preferred screening tests. In 2020, ACS updated its guideline to recommend primary HPV testing as the preferred screening test for cervical cancer. Until recently, self-collection was not an option and HPV testing had to be done at a health care provider’s office during a pelvic exam.

One important recommendation that did not change in the ACS guideline is that a provider-collected HPV test sample is still the preferred screening option for cervical cancer. If your HPV test is abnormal or positive, additional testing done by a provider will be needed. This follow-up testing helps determine if the HPV infection has caused any abnormal cells in the cervix itself.

If you choose to self-collect, ACS recommends that the test be done every 3 years as long as the results come back normal or negative. If you choose to have your HPV test done by your provider, ACS recommends repeating it every 5 years, as long as the results are negative.

Who can benefit from self-collection?

Screening tests are done in people who have no signs or symptoms of cancer. Self-collection can be a great option for anyone eligible for cervical cancer screening who hasn’t had an abnormal test result from screening in the past. “For people who have had an abnormal screening test or who are having symptoms, self-testing is not recommended,” said Dr. Markham. “They should see their health care provider for evaluation and screening instead.”

Self-collection can be especially helpful for people who might otherwise have a hard time keeping up with regular screening. This includes people who live in areas without easy access to health care and people who experience anxiety or pain during pelvic exams.

“Self-testing removes some of the barriers that many people face with traditional cervical cancer screening,” said Dr. Markham. “For example, some people find speculum exams uncomfortable or stressful. For people who have difficulty arranging childcare or transportation, the self-testing option is also a great alternative.”

Questions to ask about self-collection

If you’re interested in self-collection for cervical cancer screening, talk to your doctor. Some questions to ask include:

• Is self-collection for HPV testing an option for me?
• What are the benefits and risks of self-collection?
• How do I get a self-collection HPV testing kit?
• What happens if my self-collected sample comes back positive?
• How often should I get screened for cervical cancer based on my results and health history?

Dr. Markham is an ASCO member.