FDA Approves 1st Ever At-Home Pap Smear Test
Say Goodbye To The Stirrup Chair! FDA Approves 1st At-Home Pap Smear
Say goodbye to that painful speculum. Soon, women across the U.S. will be able to conduct their very own at-home Pap smear test, thanks to a new tool approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 9.
According to a press release, the FDA has given Teal Health the greenlight to release the first ever at-home Pap smear test, dubbed “The Teal Wand.” The self-collection device is designed to detect HPV (human papillomavirus), the virus that causes most forms of cervical cancer. According to The American Cancer Society, so far in 2025, about 13,360 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed. Sadly, about 4,320 women will die from cervical cancer.
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Annual Pap smears are essential for women’s health, but the discomfort—and sometimes pain—of the procedure leads many to skip their exams. The Teal Wand offers a gentler alternative. Instead of a metal speculum, it uses a simple swab to collect cervical cells for HPV testing. Users can collect the sample themselves and mail it to a lab for analysis.
Set to launch soon at getteal.com, The Teal Wand will be available for women aged 25–65 at average risk.
Pain and fear are real for some women during their gynecology visits.
This new innovation is a breakthrough for those who experience pain or anxiety during pelvic exams—and it’s a real fear. In fact, a Harris Poll survey released in January found that 72% of women have delayed a gynecological visit, despite knowing cervical cancer is largely preventable with routine screenings. Among those who postponed care, 54% cited fear or discomfort, while 49% pointed to scheduling issues.
The survey also revealed that 81% of women wanted less invasive testing options, and 73% would prefer a self-swab method—even in a clinical setting—if it meant a more comfortable experience.
The Teal Wand will certainly be the ideal option for women who experience fear or anxiety around their annual gynecology visits. According to a bulletin from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released on Dec. 10, 2024, self-collected HPV swabs are just as accurate as those collected by a clinician, and they significantly increase screening rates, particularly among populations that are often underserved. They are also a great option for women who are at a lower risk of developing cervical cancer.
However, this option isn’t for everyone. Women at higher-than-average risk for cervical cancer—such as those who are immunocompromised or have a history of treatment for precancerous lesions—should still undergo in-office Pap smears or clinician-collected HPV tests, Self reported. These individuals typically require more frequent screening than the average guidelines suggest.
What do you think about The Teal Wand? Are you loving the news?
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