The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted official approval for the Teal Wand. This incredible device makes at-home cervical cancer screening with follow-up possible. This nifty tampon-like tool allows women to collect cells from their vagina so they can be tested. We’re hopeful it could greatly increase access to cervical cancer screenings across the country. The approval — issued on May 9 — should go a long way toward alleviating logistical barriers that countless people encounter when trying to book in-person appointments.
One leading expert in the field, Trisha Amboree, recently identified many barriers women face when accessing cervical cancer screenings. She emphasized that a multitude of issues can prevent women from accessing vital screenings. Locating time for an in-person appointment, making childcare plans, and taking time off work frequently pose huge barriers.
Within the next year, in 2025 scientists expect that the United States alone will experience more than 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, they predict over 4,000 deaths due to this disease. Despite a long-term drop in incidence of new cases over the past several decades, Amboree’s team has spotted troubling trends. Their research lays out a direct link to increasing county-level income and increasing cervical cancer diagnoses. Specifically, in regions where median annual incomes are under $40,000, non-Hispanic white women are hit the hardest.
The research team noted alarming trends in rising cervical cancer incidence and late-stage incidence in rural U.S. counties. From 2007 to 2019, the rate of new cervical cancer cases nearly tripled. It increased from 11.9 to 13.6 cases per 100,000 women. Alarmingly, screening rates have dropped for all demographics, with the steepest declines experienced by Black and Hispanic women. In 2023, that number is only 74 percent of Black women who are up to date on their cervical cancer screenings. By comparison, just 67 percent of Hispanic women reached this landmark.
Amboree was alarmed by these inequities, and she asked a big question—are traditional screening methods working?
“Is this something that women are actually interested in doing?” – Trisha Amboree
The Teal Wand is key to addressing all of these issues. It gives women a more pleasant, more private alternative. In her work with Amboree, Barbara Goff stated the need to make screening more accessible and comfortable for women in particular.
“It expands cervical cancer screening to more women, which is good. And it makes [screening] more comfortable, which is also good.” – Barbara Goff
American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic, and Black women still have the highest cervical cancer incidence rates. And the FDA recently approved the Teal Wand for over-the-counter sales. This approval has the potential to vastly increase screening access for these underserved communities.
The HPV vaccine Gardasil-9 protects against nine strains of the virus that cause cervical cancer. Its widespread uptake is key in lowering the overall burden of cervical cancer, but vaccination cannot substitute for regular screenings, at least not on its own.
As awareness grows about the benefits of early detection through both vaccination and new screening methods like the Teal Wand, health experts hope to see an increase in screening rates across all demographics.
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