New Non-Invasive Screening for Cervical Cancer
Researchers have introduced a groundbreaking method for screening cervical cancer using period blood, presenting it as a convenient, non-invasive, and accurate option. The study suggests that a standard sanitary pad equipped with a blood sample strip could detect human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of most cervical cancer cases, allowing women to perform the test at home.
At present, cervical screenings are typically conducted by healthcare professionals using a brush to collect samples from inside the vagina. However, many women who are invited for these screenings often do not attend.
The research team in China compared the accuracy of using menstrual blood to samples collected by professionals to identify cervical cell abnormalities (CIN2 and CIN3), which may require treatment. Their findings, detailed in a study published in the BMJ medical journal, were based on data collected from 3,068 women aged 20 to 54 with regular menstrual cycles from Hubei, China, between 2021 and 2025.
Participants each provided three samples: one menstrual blood sample collected with a sanitary pad and strip, one cervical sample taken by a clinician, and an additional sample processed in a lab.
The researchers evaluated both the sensitivity of the menstrual blood test—how effectively it identifies individuals with the disease—and the specificity, which assesses how accurately it identifies those without the disease.
The results indicated that pad samples had a sensitivity for detecting CIN2 of 94.7%, which is comparable to the 92.1% found in clinician-collected samples. Although the pad performed slightly lower on specificity, the likelihood that a negative test result indicated no disease was consistent across both methods. Additionally, referrals for further testing were similar.
According to the authors of the study, “The results of this large-scale, community-based study show the utility of using minipad-collected menstrual blood for HPV testing as a standardised, non-invasive alternative or replacement for cervical cancer screening.”
Sophie Brooks from Cancer Research UK expressed optimism about research aiming to improve cervical screening accessibility. She described the use of menstrual blood for HPV testing as an interesting approach, suggesting it could present another option in the future.
However, she emphasized that more extensive trials involving diverse populations are necessary to fully understand its effectiveness and integration into existing screening processes.
Xavier Bosch, an emeritus researcher at the Catalan Institute of Oncology, commented that while this research is groundbreaking, its clinical applications remain uncertain at this stage.
Athena Lamnisos, the CEO of the Eve Appeal, a charity focused on gynecological cancer, welcomed the findings, calling the prospect of more acceptable and gentler testing methods exciting. Yet, she noted that the ability to test for HPV from period blood might not be suitable for everyone, such as women who are menopausal.
“People have different barriers and concerns about screening,” she pointed out, adding that providing various testing options could encourage those who are eligible for screening but currently do not participate.
