Survey: Women Unaware of HPV Test
The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) conducted an online survey of 1,000 women ages 20 and older, and found that women don't know about the HPV test, which can be vital to detection of the virus and prevention of cervical cancer. Major findings, as printed in a press release from NPWH, include the following:
- More than half of women surveyed did not know that cervical cancer is preventable.
- Nearly one third erroneously believed the HPV test isn’t necessary if a woman isn’t currently sexually active, or is in a long-term, monogamous relationship.
- Over one third of the women surveyed did not know that insurance usually covers HPV testing.
- More than a quarter of women believed the Pap is accurate enough to find abnormal cells before they become cancerous, especially if a liquid-based Pap is used.
One of the study's most compelling findings was that the majority of women over 30, a high-risk age group for cervical cancer, had never heard of the HPV test. NPWH recommends that all women over 30 get an HPV test, regardless of previous normal Pap test results.