Self-Swab Cervical Screenings Offer Dignity and Access

A Personal Struggle

For eighteen years, a brainstem stroke has confined Person Name to a wheelchair. This individual is unable to walk or stand, requiring constant care, and faces speech difficulties. Navigating the healthcare system has been challenging, even dehumanizing, particularly concerning cervical screenings.

Person Name avoided these screenings for years. This avoidance was not a reflection of health concerns, but rather a reaction to the processes that made them feel unseen, unsafe, and unheard.

Facing Accessibility Barriers

Accessibility issues have always been significant hurdles. Healthcare access was often denied due to inadequate clinic facilities. Rooms were not large enough for transfers, lacking hoists and adjustable beds. These spaces communicated that the body of Person Name was not considered in their design.

Ignorance was prevalent. Doctors talked over Person Name, ignored preferences, and treated them as a problem. Finding a healthcare provider who understood or even tried to understand the challenges of disability was uncommon.

“That’s why I’m sharing my story. Because accessible, respectful healthcare shouldn’t be the exception. It should be the standard.”

—Person Name

The First Cervical Screening Test

In 2019, Person Name had their initial Cervical Screening Test. It wasn’t possible to go to the local GP, so they had to visit a hospital. The process, which should have been swift, took a full day.

There wasn’t a hoist available. Person Name waited almost an hour while a nurse searched for one. When found, the hoist wasn’t the type used at home, but it had to suffice. The male doctor performed the exam with a speculum. It was intrusive and uncomfortable, but familiar. Person Name felt they had no choice.

The experience was draining: physically sore and emotionally exhausted, the person dreaded the next appointment.

A New Option

Five years later, the next screening was due. Person Name braced for another hospital visit and hoist issues. Instead, the doctor offered a small plastic tube in a sealed pouch. It was a self-swab option.

This test can be done at a local clinic or healthcare setting. Because of Person Name’s condition and their support worker’s qualifications, the doctor allowed the sample to be collected at home by their support worker, or by a nurse from the doctor’s clinic.

Person Name opted for home collection. Their support worker used a standing lifter to transfer them to their bed. There was no waiting. No strangers. The entire process took just fifteen minutes.

For the first time, cervical screening felt respectful of Person Name, their body, their safety, and their autonomy.

The Impact of Self-Collection

This option wasn’t just easier; it restored a sense of humanity: of being seen and respected. It is a game-changer for people with disabilities, and anyone finding screenings distressing. After submitting their sample, the results came back: the test was positive for two types of HPV.

While concerning, Person Name was grateful, since they wouldn’t have known otherwise. Their doctor explained that these strains often clear on their own. Subsequent screening, performed at home by a female nurse, was easy and stress-free. Around 70% of cervical cancers occur in people who have never been screened or are overdue for screening (Australian Government 2024).

Beyond the Test

Being screened was about receiving care that suited Person Name, not the other way around. It gave them agency over their health and a sense of control. It was a reminder that their body is worthy of care.

Person Name chose to speak out and join the Own It campaign, advocating for a better way to protect health. For them, cervical screening was a turning point.

Healthcare continues to leave many behind. People with disabilities, people from diverse cultures, and those with trauma often endure discomfort and silence. Self-swab proves that when we listen, innovate, and include, healthcare becomes safer and more equitable for everyone.

The new option reminded Person Name that they matter and so does their health. They believe that the kindest thing is to listen to and respect our bodies, advocating for what is needed.

If you’ve delayed cervical screening, whether you are disabled, anxious, hesitant, or unsure, Person Name hopes their story shows it’s okay to seek a better way. There is a better way.

It all starts with one choice. Own it.