HPV-Self-Sampling – wo stehen wir in Deutschland?

Improving the screening uptake among so-called nonresponders (women without participation in regular screening), particularly through human papillomavirus (HPV) self-tests, offers great potential for reducing the incidence of cervical cancer in Germany. Studies show that vaginal self-sampling or first-void urine tests achieve a higher participation rate than invitation letters and have comparable accuracy to a clinical examination, with the Hannover Self-Collection (HaSCo) study for Germany particularly highlighting the effectiveness of opt-out procedures. In Germany, the use of HPV self-tests has so far taken place primarily outside structured programmes, which can lead to overdiagnosis in young cohorts due to transient HPV infections. International examples such as the Netherlands and Denmark show that HPV self-tests, as an integral part of organised screening programmes, contribute effectively to the recruitment of nonresponders. Their use should therefore be embedded within an organised system featuring precise recording of participation and defined follow-up protocols.