- The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a bug that can cause cervical cancer if the infection is left untreated for too long.
- If the infection is caught early, it can be treated before cancer develops.
- Doing a self-sampling test can help women check for an HPV infection more regularly than waiting to get a Pap smear — which is only every 10 years if you use state healthcare — and so help them get treatment before things get out of hand.
- In this video experts break down how these self-sampling screening tests work.
Mohale Moloi worked at Bhekisisa as a television producer and health journalist from July 2021 to March 2024.
. If the infection is caught early enough, it can be treated to prevent cancer from developing in the first place. Doing a self-test for an HPV infection can help. Here’s how it works.){kind=link}