Urinary HPV testing may offer hope for cervical screening non-attenders

Despite the success of cervical screening, cancer of the cervix is the fourth most common cancer affecting women worldwide (CRUK 2014). Rates are particularly high in developing nations, which lack the requisite infrastructure for cytology and colposcopy-based screening, and in certain demographic groups, where uptake of screening is poor. Recent research has focussed on developing less invasive and potentially more acceptable means of identifying women at high risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Urinary HPV testing has received particular attention because of the ease of obtaining samples and the opportunity this affords to overcoming barriers to cervical screening like embarrassment and discomfort. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.