Period Pad Detects Cancer-Causing HPV

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.

While the HPV vaccine and existing cervical screening have already reduced cervical cancer rates, this new method offers a more convenient and less intimidating option. Experts suggest that providing a choice of testing methods could encourage more eligible women, up to age 64, to participate in screening programs.