September marks Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, a time to elevate conversations about the cancers that affect millions of women worldwide. Among them, cervical cancer stands out for a powerful reason: it is largely preventable. With widespread vaccination and increased access to screening and treatment of pre-cancer, cervical cancer could be eliminated.

Virtually all cervical cancer is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Screening for HPV, along with vaccination and timely treatment, can dramatically reduce the number of cervical cancer cases and deaths. Yet access to these tools remains uneven, and many women still face barriers to care around the world and right here at home.

It’s a staggering reality: 350,000 women’s lives could be saved worldwide each yearⁱ. The World Health Organization has set a goal: eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030ⁱⁱ.

Achieving the goal of elimination requires collaboration across sectors—governments, NGOs, healthcare providers and industry partners. But most of all, it requires that we listen to women, learn from their experiences and work together to close the gaps in cervical cancer screening.

Prevention requires more than technology. We must work to ensure that every woman, regardless of geography or income, has access to screening that is accurate, less invasive, and timely.

Listening to Women, Learning from Data

Surveysⁱⁱⁱ reveal a troubling trend: many women are delaying gynecology visits due to discomfort, fear or logistical challenges. Others are unsure how often they should be screened or confuse cervical cytology (Pap) with HPV tests. The former and arguably more familiar “Pap smears” are useful for confirming the presence of cervical cancer, but the latter HPV tests are superior for detecting cervical pre-cancer—in other words, at finding the case before it becomes life-threatening. These gaps in understanding and access are not just clinical, they’re systemic. They reflect how women experience healthcare, and how systems must evolve to meet them with clarity, compassion and choice.

Furthermore, not all HPV infections carry the same risk. Some types are more likely to lead to cervical cancer than others. Extended genotyping helps identify exactly which types of HPV—higher-risk or lower-risk—are present. This is particularly important because persistent infection with the same high-risk HPV type is what can lead to cancer. Extended genotyping of individual strains gives healthcare providers a clearer picture so they can make better treatment decisions and helps women avoid unnecessary procedures or follow-ups.

This targeted approach can reduce potential reproductive harm and helps to ensure that women receive the most appropriate care for their situation. Enabling self-collection and delivering precise, actionable results can help to shift the paradigm from reactive care to proactive prevention.

The value of extended genotyping in cervical cancer screening has been recognized by the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) through inclusion in their Enduring Risk-Based Management Guidelines^iv. It’s also featured in their popular mobile app, downloaded for use by more than 150,000 clinicians in the U.S. The ASCCP app isn’t flashy. It doesn’t trend on TikTok. But it’s a quiet workhorse in exam rooms across the country, helping clinicians make informed care decisions based on cervical cancer screening results.

As we listen to women and learn from data, it becomes clear that innovation must meet accessibility.

Expanding Access Through Self-Collection Options

In addition to extended genotyping, another promising development is the growing availability around the world of self-collection options for HPV screening. In many countries outside the U.S., women can collect their own vaginal samples either at home or in a healthcare setting, making screening more accessible and less invasive than traditional methods. At-home self-collection tests are currently in review with the FDA, which, when available, will offer a safe, simple and non-invasive collection experience, helping to remove logistical barriers and supporting broader participation in cervical cancer screening programs.

One example of innovation in this space is the BD Onclarity™ HPV Assay^v, approved in the U.S. and in countries that recognize CE Marking, for extended genotyping to individually identify high-risk HPV types and for self-collection in healthcare settings. In the U.S., it is the only assay approved for both, and in countries recognizing the CE mark, self-collection is also available in at-home settings.

This test provides clinicians with more precise results and helps patients receive appropriate care, including avoiding unnecessary follow-up testing. Beyond highly-resourced countries, we’re also engaged in partnerships in Kenya, Colombia, India, and South Africa, supporting screening programs and infrastructure development, and within the U.S., we are helping to drive public-private initiatives like the National Cancer Institute’s Last Mile Initiative, which aims to evaluate and scale self-collection strategies.

Every woman deserves care that respects her time, her comfort, and her voice. We envision a world where women are empowered with access and a choice for their cervical cancer screening, whether it be in a routine visit at the doctor’s office or the comfort and privacy of their own home. A world where every woman has access to tools, information and flexibility to take control of their health on their terms. In that world, eliminating cervical cancer isn’t just possible; it is within reach.

About the author: Jeff Andrews, MD, FRCSC is Medical and Scientific Affairs VP for BD Diagnostic Solutions. A Board-Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Dr. Andrews has provided care in community settings in both metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Washington, DC; and has served as Associate Professor at Duke University Medical Center and at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.