Women in the United States may soon find it easier—and more affordable—to get screened for cervical cancer, following updated federal guidelines that allow self-collected vaginal samples to be used for testing.

The new guidance, issued by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, expands screening options and removes key financial barriers. Under the updated rules, most private insurance plans will be required to cover cervical cancer screening using self-collected samples without charging patients out of pocket.

Health officials say the move is aimed at closing longstanding gaps in screening, which leave millions of women unprotected against a highly preventable cancer.

“The guideline is designed to help close the screening gap by expanding access and reducing cost barriers,” an HRSA spokesperson told The Washington Post. “About one in four women are not up to date on cervical cancer screening, and the disease often has no symptoms in its early stages, making regular screening critical.”

Cervical cancer is most commonly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a widespread sexually transmitted infection. Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are linked to persistent HPV infection, making HPV testing a cornerstone of prevention.

Under the revised guidelines, average-risk women aged 21 to 65 are advised to continue routine screening. Women between 21 and 29 should undergo a Pap test every three years. Those aged 30 to 65 are recommended to have screening every five years using an HPV test alone or a combination of HPV and Pap testing.

For the first time, however, women in the 30–65 age group should also be offered the option of using a government-approved, self-collected vaginal sample for HPV testing. Health experts say this option could be especially helpful for women who avoid traditional pelvic exams due to discomfort, time constraints, cultural reasons, or limited access to healthcare facilities.

The federal update closely aligns with new recommendations issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS) in December.

“Cervical cancer is a highly preventable disease,” said Robert Smith, senior vice president of early cancer detection science at the ACS. “Yet, despite the progress we’ve made in reducing cervical cancer through screening, recent reports show that screening rates have declined since 2021 and have not rebounded in the post-pandemic period.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States, and roughly 4,000 people die from the disease each year.

Experts believe self-collection could play a significant role in reversing declining screening rates. In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first at-home cervical cancer screening tool developed by Teal Health. The device allows users to collect a vaginal sample themselves and mail it to a laboratory for HPV testing.

For now, however, most self-collected samples are expected to be obtained in clinical settings rather than entirely at home. Even so, public health officials say the change marks an important step toward making cervical cancer screening more accessible, acceptable, and equitable—potentially saving thousands of lives through earlier detection.