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The FDA approves first U.S. at-home tool as a Pap-smear alternative (www.npr.org)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

6 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The Food and Drug administration has approved the U.S.'s first at-home alternative to the Pap smear, a procedure generations of women have dreaded and often found painful.

The new device by Teal Health will offer a "much preferred experience," the company said in its announcement, and also aims to increase screening rates by making the procedure more convenient.

Traditionally, gynecologists have inserted a cold metal speculum deep into a woman's vagina to scrape cells from the cervix.

The Teal Wand — "built with empathy," the company said — uses a swab to collect a vaginal sample. Women will then mail the sample to a lab that will screen for HPV (human papillomavirus), the virus that causes nearly all cervical cancers. A growing body of research has found HPV testing to be highly accurate.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

So instead of looking for cancerous cells they're just looking for HPV? What percentage is "nearly all" exactly? Either they are going to miss some cancers or I could have skipped a lot of Pap smears. I just finally aged out, and now they tell me‽

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

The other risks are linked to a ton of other cancers: smoking, and a weak immune system.

There is a vaccine for hpv now, so it'll be interesting to see if the rates of cervical cancer drop going forward.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Do you really still trust the FDA?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Not under this administration. But I had my final Pap at 65, as per long-standing recommendations, and I don't intend to start any HPV-risky activities.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I don’t really trust the FDA to be doing due diligence anymore so I will continue to see my doctor for Pap smears, beyond the fact a Pap smear appointment does more than just look for HPV

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

You come to the store, you get your own stuff, you bring to the front, you check it out yourself and you get the fuck out.