Overview
- The American Cancer Society projects about 14,000 new U.S. cases in 2026, with 4,320 deaths recorded last year.
- Experts stress that an abnormal screening result rarely means cancer, as cervical disease typically develops slowly and pre‑cancerous changes are highly treatable with follow‑up.
- The FDA has cleared at‑home HPV self‑collection, offering a private option for patients who avoid clinic exams, including those with past trauma.
- HPV causes most cervical cancers, and vaccination—approved for women and men through age 45—has driven roughly a 90% drop in rates among younger women.
- Policy shifts now encourage access: HRSA favors primary high‑risk HPV testing and supports self‑collection, patient‑navigation services became a covered benefit on Jan. 1, 2026, and most private insurers are slated to cover screening and follow‑up without cost‑sharing starting Jan. 1, 2027.