How can sanitary pads be used to test for HPV?

Researchers have developed special sanitary pads with blood sample strips that can detect HPV, the virus linked to cervical cancer.

What is the significance of testing menstrual blood for HPV?

Testing menstrual blood offers a non-invasive and potentially more accessible alternative to traditional cervical cancer screening methods.

Can this new HPV test replace current cervical screening methods?

The study suggests that menstrual blood-based HPV testing could serve as a standardized, non-invasive alternative or replacement for current cervical cancer screening.

Home / Health / Period Pad Detects Cancer-Causing HPV

Period Pad Detects Cancer-Causing HPV

5 Feb

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Summary

Sanitary pads topped with blood sample strips detect HPV, which causes cervical cancer.
A study in China tested the pads on 3,068 women aged 20-54.
This method could offer a non-invasive alternative for cervical cancer screening.

A groundbreaking study from China suggests that sanitary pads, enhanced with blood sample strips, can effectively detect Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the virus responsible for nearly all cervical cancer cases. This innovative approach was evaluated in a large-scale community-based study involving 3,068 women aged 20 to 54 between 2021 and 2025.

The research, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), compared the accuracy of menstrual blood samples collected via these special pads against clinician-collected cervical samples. The menstrual blood samples demonstrated a high sensitivity rate of 94.7% for detecting pre-cancerous cervical abnormalities (CIN2), slightly outperforming the clinician-collected samples.

This non-invasive method is seen as a potential game-changer for cervical cancer screening. It could significantly improve accessibility for women who face barriers to attending traditional screening appointments, such as fear, privacy concerns, stigma, or lack of awareness. The study authors advocate for integrating this menstrual blood-based HPV testing into national screening guidelines.