New U.S. Cervical Cancer Screening Guidance Adds Self-Collection: What It Means for Women, Costs, and Follow-Up
A January 2026 federal update makes HPV-only screening the preferred option for many women 30 to 65 and adds self-collection as a choice.
Women’s Health
Women’s health research, prevention, screening, treatment, and policy developments.
-
-
Who Should Be Screened for Osteoporosis? What the Latest U.S. Guidance Means for Adults at Fracture Risk
New U.S. guidance says women 65 and older should be screened for osteoporosis, and some younger postmenopausal women should be screened sooner.
-
Got a Dense-Breast Notice After Your Mammogram? What a New Study Says About When MRI May Help
A new March 3, 2026 modeling study suggests breast MRI may make the most sense for people with extremely dense breasts plus higher-than-average breast cancer risk. A dense-breast notice alone does not automatically mean you need an MRI.
-
CDC Says Most U.S. Women 18–44 Still Miss Both Cardio and Strength Goals. What Counts as Enough Exercise?
A new CDC analysis found that only about 1 in 4 U.S. women ages 18 to 44 reported enough leisure-time activity to meet both federal cardio and muscle-strengthening goals. Here’s what the guidelines actually mean in plain language, why strength training is often the missing piece, and how to start without an all-or-nothing approach.
-
New U.S. cervical cancer screening guidance adds self-collected HPV testing: who it’s for, what changes in 2026, and when insurance coverage follows
A new federal update says self-collected HPV testing should be offered as an option for average-risk women ages 30 to 65. Here’s what changed, what did not, and why many insurance plans may not have to cover the new option with no out-of-pocket costs until plan years that start in 2027.
-
FDA’s New Bone-Density Shortcut for Osteoporosis Drug Trials: What It Means, and What It Doesn’t
The FDA’s December 19, 2025 decision could make some osteoporosis drug trials smaller and faster. But it does not change who should get screened, how osteoporosis is diagnosed, or what most patients should do today.
-
Breast Cancer Screening Now Starts at 40: What the Updated USPSTF Guidance Means for Women
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that most women start mammograms at age 40 instead of 50. Here’s what changed, what the evidence shows, and what it means for your health and insurance coverage.
-
Breast Implant Safety in 2026: What the FDA’s Latest Updates Mean for Patients
The FDA continues to monitor rare cancers linked to breast implants, including BIA-ALCL and emerging reports of BIA-SCC. Here’s what patients need to know about symptoms, risk levels, informed consent, and insurance coverage.
-
New U.S. Maternal Mortality Data: What the Latest CDC Findings Mean for Pregnant and Postpartum Families
The CDC’s latest provisional data show that maternal deaths in the United States remain a serious public health concern. Here’s what the newest numbers mean for pregnant and postpartum families, including leading causes, disparities, warning signs, and why insurance coverage after birth matters.
-
Osteoporosis Screening in 2026: Who Should Get a Bone Density Test and Why It Matters
Most women 65 and older should be screened for osteoporosis, even if they feel fine. Here’s what the current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation says, what a DXA scan measures, and how insurance coverage works.
-
Breast Cancer Screening at 40: What the Latest U.S. Guidance Means for Women
U.S. preventive care experts now recommend starting routine breast cancer screening at age 40 for women at average risk. Here’s what changed, who it affects, and how to decide what’s right for you.
End of content
End of content