Courtesy Photo | Lt. Cmdr. Leslye Green, staff obstetrician and gynecologist, Naval Hospital Pensacola,...... read more read more
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Madigan Army Medical Centeron Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington,isthe firstDefense Health Agencymilitary hospital or clinicto offerwomena convenient alternative to pelvic exams to test forhuman papillomavirus.The test allows you tocollectavaginalsample while in a private spaceatMAMC’spathology laboratory. This allowsfor a discreet, streamlined testdesigned to keepall beneficiaries healthy.
“This initiative is a significant step forward in preventive health care for the military community,” said Dr. Paul Cordts, chief medical officer fortheDHA.“HPV self-collection is a safe and effective option that will allow more women tobe screened forcervical cancer.”
At leastfourofeveryfivewomenhave been infected with HPVby age 50, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.While many womenexposed to HPV haveno symptomsand clear the virus over time, about 10% of women will develop long-lasting HPV infections that put them at risk for developingcervical cancer.Thoseof both sexesexposedto HPVmay haveno symptoms,andfor many,the virus clearsthebodynaturally over time.
HPVtesting to improvereadiness and health
Reducing theoddsagainst HPV infection and HPV-related cancers through regular screening and vaccinationhelps all service membersmaintainhigh levelsof readiness. TheCDCstatesHPV isthought to beresponsible formore than 90% of anal and cervical cancers, about 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and 60% of penile cancers in the U.S.
According to MAMC’s chief of pathology, Maj. Benjamin Cook, “We are committed to build readiness byleveragingstate-of-the art testing capabilities to form a medically ready warfighting force.Our staff and hospital are proud to be a part of this initiative.”
The self-test offered at MAMCdemonstrateshow DHA facilities allow patients tobe incharge oftheirpreventive care.
“We want to empower women to take control of their health,” saidCordts.“We are committed to providing our patients with the most advanced and accessible health care options available.”
How do you get the self-test?
The Food and Drug Administration-approved self-test has been available atMAMCsinceMarch 2026.It provides a“simple, quick, and effective screening,”said Maj. Kathleen Pombier, Chiefof theDHA’sWomen's Health Clinical Management Teamand a Gynecologic Surgeon and Obstetricianwho practices at military hospitals and clinics in the National Capital Region.
“Average-risk womencurrentlynot beingscreenedare the target for the self-test,”Pombiernoted, meaningyou have no symptoms of an HPV infection or cancer, no history of abnormal screeningresults, and your immune system is not compromised.“While the test is approved for those as young as25, it is generally reserved for those between the ages of 30and 65,”sheadded.
You might consider the self-test if clinicians cannot collect specimens due to your history, preferences, orbarriers toaccess.“Speakto your health care team about whether self-testingis right for you,”Pombiersaid.
Addressinganxiety and discomfortthroughease ofself-testing
Some women“may avoid or delay cervical cancer screening due to discomfort with pelvic exams, a history of trauma, or difficulty accessing a preferred provider for gynecologic exams,”saidKimberly Taylor from the Women’s Health Clinical Management Team,DHA.
The comfort and privacy the self-testprovides“address these concerns by offering a patient-centric approach that prioritizes patients’personal preferences,”saidTaylor.
You need to contact your primary care provider, gynecologicsurgeon, or obstetricianand let them knowyou’reinterestedinself-testing.This can be done by phone, secure messaging intheMHSGENESIS Patient Portal, or during an appointment.After yourprovider reviewsyour medical chart todeterminewhether the test isappropriate, you may thengo to the lab and self-test(if available at your location).
MAMC uses an FDA-approved,self-collected swab test, called thecobasHPV test, which clinicians“validated against other assessments and found the results comparable,”Pombiersaid.The single-use test checks whether there is sufficientsamplefor a valid result. The controlportionof the test will alert you if the amount ofsampleis insufficient.
Howarethe resultsinterpreted?
A negative test resultis great news, Pombier said. It means no finding of high-risk HPV, and your risk of cervical cancer isvery low. Youwon'tneed to screen again for another three years.
A positive result means the test found a high-risk type of HPV. The result is not a cancer diagnosis, Pombier stressed, but rather a sign your provider needs to take a closer look.
If the test finds HPV types 16 or 18— high-risk, cancer-causing strains— yourprovider may recommend a follow-up exam called a colposcopy, saidPombier. Colposcopy is a diagnostic procedure in which a lighted magnifying instrument called a colposcope helps your provider examine your cervix, vagina, and external genitals. If your provider finds other high-risk HPV types, youlikely willneed a follow-upPap test,Pombierexplained.
HPV self-collection is not a substitute for routine well-women care,Pombieremphasized. “You need tomaintainregular touchpoints with your clinicians to ensureyou are up to date withall your health needs.While we encourage you to continue with your current screeningoptionif you are satisfied with it, we recognize that traditional methods are not a good fit for everyone,” said Taylor.
“For those who have delayed or avoided screening, self-collection provides a new, more accessible alternative. By offering a choice that is both comfortable and convenient, our hope is to bridge the gap for those not currently being screened. When everyoneparticipatesin screening, we can ensure total force readiness and move closer toeliminatingcervical cancer,”Pombier said.
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2026 09:26 |
| Story ID: | 561827 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 12 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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