A new period blood test could provide an alternative to traditional cervical screening

Are you up to date with your cervical screening? In 2024, NHS data showed that almost 1.87 million of us were overdue for a potentially life-saving test.

While cervical screening is an incredibly effective way to identify early signs of cervical cancer, uptake rates have always been an issue. In recent years, there have been several attempts to change that, from high profile campaigns to the introduction of at-home tests kits for women who have missed numerous appointment invites. But what none of these initiatives have been able to address is the discomfort of the test itself, which is a major barrier for many women.

New research could provide the answer we’ve been looking for. A study published in the BMJ this week found that testing period blood for signs of cervical cancer could be an accurate way of screening for the disease in the future.  

The research, which involved more than 3,000 women aged 20–54, looked at the effectiveness of detecting high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) through period blood collected on mini pads compared to traditional cell samples collected by doctors. When the samples were sent to a lab, they found that the accuracy of the period blood samples in detecting HPV was “comparable” to those collected by the doctors.

“The results of this study suggest that mini pad-collected menstrual blood for HPV testing is an equivalent alternative or replacement to the current standard of care for cervical cancer screening, with non-inferior sensitivity,” the study’s authors wrote.

As is the case with traditional cervical screening, those whose period blood tested positive for HPV were sent for a colposcopy, which allows clinicians to look closely at the cervix to identify any problematic pre-cancerous cells.  

There are limitations. For example, women who do not regularly menstruate – whether due to contraception, hormonal imbalances, certain medications or other conditions – would still need to be tested using the traditional route.

The cost of the mini pads used to collect the period blood could also be a barrier, although there are pre-existing companies creating this kind of technology; Qvin, a US-based fem-tech company, is developing pads to detect STIs, cervical cancer, endometriosis, diabetes and more.

But the idea that we could have more options for testing in the future is an exciting one. At the end of the day, anything that helps to get more of us taking up these life-saving tests could be truly transformational. 

Images: Getty