JAMA Netw Open

Most U.S. women prefer clinic-based cervical cancer screening, survey finds

February 11, 2026

In a population-based cross-sectional study of 2,300 U.S. women (mean age, 45.5 years), only 20% preferred home-based self-sampling, while 61% favored clinic-based cervical cancer screening and 19% were unsure. Non-Hispanic Black respondents had significantly lower odds of preferring at-home sampling (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.45) compared with non-Hispanic White women, while those reporting prejudice or discrimination in medical settings had higher odds of preferring at-home sampling (AOR, 1.94). The top reasons for choosing at-home testing were privacy (54.9%), time constraints (35.1%), and fear of embarrassment (33.4%).

Clinical takeaway: Offering HPV self‑sampling as a supplemental screening pathway may help clinicians reach underscreened patients and improve adherence to cervical cancer screening recommendations.

Source:

Fokom Domgue J, et al. (2026, February 6). JAMA Netw Open. Women's Preferences for Home-Based Self-Sampling or Clinic-Based Testing for Cervical Cancer Screening. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41649812/