A large Chinese study published in BMJ found that HPV testing on menstrual blood collected via a sanitary-pad strip matched clinician-collected cervical samples for detection of high-risk HPV types tied to cervical lesions. The trial, which enrolled over 3,000 women, suggests an alternative, non-invasive screening option that could increase participation among underscreened populations. Separately, the FDA expanded clearance for Hologic’s Aptima HPV assay to include clinician-collected primary screening, widening the diagnostic options providers can use. Hologic framed the decision as enhancing flexibility across Pap/HPV co-testing and primary screening pathways. Together these developments push cervical-cancer screening toward more accessible and varied sampling methods. Regulators and payors will weigh clinical utility, comparative performance versus approved self-swabs, and implementation logistics for broader adoption.