Offering self- or clinician-taken non-speculum sampling for cervical screening improves uptake among lapsed attenders aged 50+ years

Cervical screening improves early detection and prevention of cancer. Vaginal speculum examination can be a barrier for patients either due to embarrassment or pain. This pragmatic multisite, randomised, controlled trial (RCT) among general practitioner (GP) practices in London, UK offered just under 800 women aged between 50 and 64 years, who had defaulted on cervical screening, the option of a self-taken or clinician-taken swab for high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing compared with standard cervical cytology. At both 4 and 12 months following enrolment, significantly higher proportions of women (more than double) had engaged in screening in the intervention arm compared with the control arm. Of those screened using non-speculum methods, low numbers were hrHPV-positive and were linked to further care. This intervention clearly improves uptake, and in the era of COVID-19 where there is greater community familiarity with self-testing this is likely to be a valuable clinical intervention.

Br J Gen Pract 2022; https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2021.0350

COCP use appears to reduce dysglycaemia in women with PCOS

In women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) increased androgen levels are drivers of increased metabolic risk. Combined oral contraceptive pills (COCP) …