Comparison of Cervical Screening at 6- and 12-Weeks Postnatal: A Paired-Sample Feasibility Study.
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Authors
Cullimore, Victoria A
Dean, Tessa
Chu, Kim
Brentnall, Adam
Denton, Karin
Hunt, Katherine
Sargent, Alexandra
Johns, Laura
Edey, Katharine
Coleridge, Sarah L
Issue Date
2026-04-01
Type
Journal Article
Language
en
Keywords
cervical screening , postnatal , self‐sampling
Alternative Title
Abstract
Objective: Feasibility of a paired-sample study comparing cervical screening and urine self-sampling at 6- and 12-weeks postnatal.
Design: Paired-sample feasibility study.
Setting: Acute hospital.
Population or sample: Females within 6 weeks of childbirth.
Methods: Paired-sample study comparing cervical screening and high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) testing from clinician-taken samples and urine self-samples at 6- and 12-weeks postnatal.
Main outcome measures: Uptake rates, patient-reported outcomes, adverse events, HPV detection, relative HPV sensitivity and specificity.
Results: Of 245 potential participants, 115 (47%) consented, 102 (89%) and 96 (83%) attended their 6- and 12-week screening visits, respectively. Median pain scores for cervical screening did not differ (6-weeks = 1; 12-weeks = 1; p = 0.76). Most would be happy for future screening at 6-weeks postnatal, 97/102 (95%) and 85/95 (89%) when asked at 6- and 12-week study visits, respectively. Agreement rate of clinician-taken HPV tests between 6- and 12-weeks was 94.8% (91/96, 95% confidence interval [CI], 88.4%-97.8%), with no inadequate combination HPV/cytology tests (6 vs. 12-week: sensitivity 80% [95% CI, 44.4-97.5]; specificity 96.5% [95% CI 90.1-99.3]). Relative to 12-week clinician-taken samples, urine self-sampling may have lower sensitivity for HPV (e.g., 6-week: sensitivity 60.0% [95% CI 26.2-87.8]; specificity 96.5% [95% CI 90.1-99.3]; NPV 95.4% [95% CI 88.6-98.7]).
Conclusions: A paired-sample study of cervical screening at 6- and 12-weeks is feasible. Inadequacy rates of cervical screening were low, with high agreement. Urine self-sampling may be less sensitive in this population.
Description
Citation
Cullimore VA, Dean T, Chu K, Brentnall A, Denton K, Hunt K, Sargent A, Johns L, Edey K, Coleridge SL, Borley J, Newhouse R, Baker-Rand H, McWilliams L, Davidson EJ, Morrison J. Comparison of Cervical Screening at 6- and 12-Weeks Postnatal: A Paired-Sample Feasibility Study. BJOG. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.70234. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41918401.
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Ltd
License
© 2026 The Author(s). BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Journal
BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
ISSN
1471-0528