Okay ladies. It's time to get personal here and talk about our health. January is Cervical Health Awareness month and today we're going to get down to the nitty-gritty and talk about testing yourself for HPV.
There's a new option that allows you to check your risk for cervical cancer in the convenience of your own home. Did you know that HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer? Nearly 80% of sexually active women carry HPV at some point in their life. Getting tested for HPV decreases your risk of developing cervical cancer.
When I was a teenager I used to be a health peer educator in my high school. We often went to conferences and classes that taught us what it means to be healthy as a young teen. I guess you can say I've always had some sort of interest in being healthy and shedding light on health issues that affect our community.
Nurx is introducing it's new Home HPV Screening Kit will check for 14 strains of HPV that have a higher risk of leading to cervical cancer. This kit is perfect for women who are 30 years old and over and don't get pap smears as often as they should. There is also Nurx Home HPV Screening Kit for women ages 25 through 29 yrs.
Here's how the Nurx Home HPV Screening Kit works
First, visit Nurx.com or download the Nurx app, and answer a few questions about your health and they will ship your kids straight to your door. Inside your kit you will find:
*A very long Q-tip
*A plastic tube
*A plastic bag
*A sticker with a bar-code
*A prepaid return envelope
Directions on how to use your kit:
Hold the swab with one hand hold the long Q-tip with one hand and insert the swab just like you would a tampon. Gently turn the suave in a circular action against the wall of your vagina for 30 seconds. Put the swab in the tube and drop it in the bag and place it in the bag. Put the bag in the prepaid envelope and drop it off in the mail.
Once your sample arrives you'll get your results from the Nurx medical team in a few days from when they receive your sample. If your results are negative that means your risk for cervical cancer is very low and you don't need to do any additional testing for three more years. If you happen to get positive results this does not mean you have cervical cancer. The next medical team will work closely with you to help you figure out the next steps you should take.
You can try the kit for yourself by visiting the Nurx.com website or by downloading the iOS mobile app as well. Keep in mind though, this is not what a way to prevent HPV.
What I like most about the Nurx Home HPV Screening Kit is that it can use in the convenience of your own home and you don't have to worry about those awful stirrups. It's quick, easy, and convenient and gives you peace of mind. Oh, did I tell you it's affordable too? You can purchase the kit with or without insurance. With insurance, it's $15. Without insurance, it's just $69.
Wow I never heard of this before but it’s a really great idea for people to do this at home and in private. As much as our society talks about sex, I feel we don’t nearly talk about STDs/STIs and testing the way we need to. This is so important. And I didn’t know this was Cervical Health Awareness Month.
ReplyDeleteThis was quite informative. I think having an in home test kit option is so smart. I’m outside of the age range, but I hope the young folks give this a try.
ReplyDeleteI love home testing kits. Going to the doctor's office is such a huge barrier to receiving healthcare for some. I know it is for me because I handle childcare in my home.
ReplyDeleteWow! I had no idea there was at home HPV testing. This is great! I'm outside of the age range for home testing but that's ok. I have consistently gotten my pap smear since my teens, and thankfully it now includes the HPV test.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that you could do this type of screening at home. I'm just now recovering from a major health scare, so this is something that I'm certainly going to look into. I also have a daughter who is coming of age for this testing so I will most certainly make sure she is screened too. Thank you for this post.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great test for women in the age range who should get tested. I think making it available out of the comfort of your own home is awesome.
ReplyDeleteWow. They are coming up with everything! I wonder how accurate it is since it’s taking a sample from vaginal walls instead of the actual cells from cervix. Just a thought. They also have at home colon cancer screenings to avoid colonoscopies! Very informative post!
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting. I'm generally distrustful of home testing kits of any kind because of the chance of contamination or error but I understand that it's a good option for those who don't have access to other healthcare.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! It is so good that they are doing this. I don't know why that hasn't been done sooner. I actually have to schedule in annual. I was looking through my health care plan and apparently it's not essential to go every year. I don't know how i feel about that though. Thanks for sharing this! Definitely something we need to be aware of!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited about these home HPV kits. Sometimes you just don't feel like all that goes into a GYN appointment. This introvert approves. LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you pointed out the statistics. Most women will encounter an STD like HPV and herpes is also really prevalent. They don't mean your sex life is over. It just means you can protect yourself and your partner going forward.
ReplyDeleteOh wow things have come a long way! I never knew you could do an at home test for HPV. In Canada the government literally sends you letters reminding you to get tested.
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