Enhancing Cervical Cancer Screening in Asian American Women Through HPV Self-Collection

Recent research highlights that allowing Asian American women to self-collect samples for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing significantly increases their participation in cervical cancer screening. Presented at the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in September 2025, the study underscores the benefits of culturally sensitive, private, and convenient screening options.

The study involved 1,140 Asian American women aged 30 to 65, most of whom were foreign-born, with nearly half having never undergone a Pap smear. After attending a community-based educational workshop about cervical cancer and available screening resources, half of the participants received HPV self-sampling kits with instructions in their native languages—English, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese.

Results showed that six months post-workshop, 87% of women given self-collection kits returned a sample, compared to only 30% of women referred to clinics for traditional Pap smears. Notably, 14% of the self-sampled women tested positive for HPV, and about 9% had high-risk HPV variants that required follow-up care.

This approach proved to be not only more effective in increasing screening rates but also appealing due to its privacy and simplicity. Dr. Carolyn Fang of Fox Chase Cancer Center explained that such options could play a key role in reaching populations with historically lower screening rates. Several professional health organizations are considering updates to their guidelines to include HPV self-sampling.

Looking ahead, researchers aim to study if self-sampling can improve long-term engagement with healthcare and screening among women lacking regular healthcare access. Dr. Fang emphasizes that fostering community-clinical linkages and increasing women's comfort with testing are vital steps toward eliminating cervical cancer. Limitations of the study include its focus on Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese populations, with further research needed to generalize findings across broader Asian American groups.