NHS offers home cervical screening kits to millions of women in England

The NHS in England has started sending invitations for free at-home cervical screening kits to women who have missed their appointments. Nearly four million women will receive an invitation over the next year. The invitations will arrive by NHS App, text, email, or letter.

The kits are HPV self-testing swabs that women can use at home. Women between 24 and 64 are normally invited for cervical screening every five years. The NHS hopes this option will encourage more women to get tested, because some find it difficult to attend a clinic.

However, the NHS says that in-person appointments with a clinician are still the most effective way to check for cancer. Women can also choose to attend a traditional screening appointment if they prefer.