HPV, or human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is so common that most people who are sexually active will be exposed to it at some point. In the large majority of cases, the body clears the virus on its own within a couple of years and it causes no lasting harm.
There are many types of HPV. A subset, known as high-risk types, matters most for cancer. When a high-risk HPV infection does not clear and persists for years, it can slowly cause changes in the cells of the cervix. If those changes are not found and managed, they can progress to cervical cancer. Nearly all cervical cancers are linked to persistent high-risk HPV infection.
The important word is persistent. The path from infection to cancer usually takes many years, which is exactly why screening works so well: it can catch high-risk HPV, or the early cell changes it causes, long before cancer develops.
Because high-risk HPV is the cause, testing for it is one of the most effective ways to protect against cervical cancer. An HPV test looks directly for the virus that drives the disease, so a negative result is very reassuring and a positive result flags who needs closer follow-up. Screening guidelines from major health organizations now center on HPV testing for this reason.
The challenge has never been the science, it is access. Many people fall behind on screening because it has traditionally required a clinic visit and a pelvic exam. That is where at-home HPV self-collection changes things, by letting people screen without a clinic visit at all.
SNT Biotech partners with health plans to bring at-home HPV screening to the members who are hardest to reach, processed in our own accredited laboratory. Learn more about our cervical cancer screening program, or read how accurate at-home HPV testing is.
This article is general educational information and is not medical advice. For personal guidance about HPV or cervical cancer screening, talk with your healthcare provider.
See how SNT Biotech brings at-home HPV self-collection to your members.