Cervical smears are one of the least convenient health checks a woman can have.
 
Appointments seem to be only available during working hours and there’s a very short window every month where you can have the test done. Not to mention the discomfort of the test itself.
 
So it’s not surprising that despite all the health campaigns, only 80% of women are up to date on their cervical check.
 
However a study published in the British Medical Journal has highlighted an easier alternative – urine tests.
 
The study shows that urine tests can be used to detect the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV), one of the main causes of cervical cancer.
 
With these easy, non-invasive tests, researchers hope that they will be able to screen for the virus more widely. This could also encourage more women to get the cervical smear if the urine tests suggest they are at risk.
 
"The detection of HPV in urine is non-invasive, easily accessible and acceptable to women, and a test with these qualities could considerably increase uptake," the researchers said.
 
This discovery could be very important in developing countries, where women’s access to health screenings is limited.
 
Urine tests could be revolutionary in these areas in providing cheap and easy screening programs, and finding those with risk factors or abnormal results.

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