HPV Self-Collection Option Now Available for Cervical Cancer Screening in James and Hudson Bay Lowland Communities

Residents in the James and Hudson Bay lowland communities can now access human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection for cervical cancer screening, according to an announcement by the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA) on July 28.

The availability of the self-collection option means individuals have an alternative to the existing provider-collected test in these communities. WAHA states that HPV self-collection can find HPV early, before it has the chance to cause cancer.

According to WAHA, cervical cancer is almost always caused by HPV, a common virus with more than 100 types. The authority reports that most HPV infections clear on their own, but some types can cause changes in cervical cells that may develop into cancer if not treated. WAHA notes that screening is the only way to identify these early cellular changes.

WAHA outlines two ways to be screened for HPV. In the provider-collected option, a health care provider inserts a speculum and uses a soft brush to take a cell sample from the cervix. The self-collected method allows individuals to collect their own sample with a swab, place it in a tube, and return it to a health care provider. WAHA states that research shows both methods are safe and accurate. If HPV is found through self-collection, WAHA says a follow-up provider-collected sample is required to check for changes in cervical cells.

WAHA recommends that anyone with a cervix aged 25 to 70 who has ever been sexually active should be screened for cervical cancer every five years with the provider-collected option, or every three years with the self-collected option. According to WAHA, most people between ages 65 and 69 with a negative HPV test can stop screening, though in some cases it may continue until age 74. The last required screening test must be done by a primary care provider. WAHA defines sexual activity as any contact with another person’s genitals—including contact by hand, mouth, genitals, or through sharing sex toys.

WAHA advises contacting a local health clinic for more information or to book an appointment. The authority also refers residents to Cancer Care Ontario for additional details.