These days, many people can skip the dreaded Pap smear in favor of a far less invasive and more private way to screen for cervical cancer: disposable, DIY swabs that can be used to test for high-risk variants of HPV, the virus responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. In January, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) said many people can opt for self-testing, either at home or in a health care setting, rather than undergoing uncomfortable exams with a clinician.
Home testing for HPV, short for human papillomavirus, is a big step forward, but don’t lose your gynecologist’s number yet. There are reasons to make an