How a New Approach to Cervical Cancer Screening is Breaking Barriers

For decades, cervical cancer screening has remained a routine yet often dreaded experience for millions of women. The invasive nature of traditional methods—reliant on speculums and in-office Pap smears—has deterred many from routine testing, contributing to gaps in preventive healthcare. Now, a new generation of healthcare innovators is taking a radically different approach: designing screening solutions alongside the women they serve.

At SXSW 2025, Teal Health and IDEO led a discussion on how rethinking design can empower more women to take control of their health—replacing the uncomfortable, clinical experience with a more intuitive and patient-friendly process.

Why Cervical Cancer Screening Needs a Rethink

Despite medical advancements, the process of getting a cervical cancer screening has remained largely unchanged for over 200 years. The traditional speculum exam, while effective, is widely viewed as invasive, uncomfortable, and inaccessible, particularly for underserved communities.

Data supports the need for change. In the U.S., nearly 25% of eligible women are not up to date on cervical cancer screenings, and for many, the reason is not a lack of awareness but a reluctance to endure the discomfort of traditional methods. The problem is even more pronounced in rural areas, communities of color, and among lower-income women, where lack of healthcare access further exacerbates disparities in early detection.

“We find that many women don’t even realize what the Pap smear is testing for,” noted the panelists at SXSW. “A significant percentage believe it screens for ovarian cancer, which highlights how much work remains in educating and engaging women in their own healthcare.”

Teal Health’s Solution: Bringing Screening to Women, On Their Terms

Teal Health is pioneering a new approach—the first FDA-approved at-home cervical cancer screening test. The company aims to eliminate the discomfort and logistical challenges of in-office exams by allowing women to collect their own samples in a way that is clinically reliable, user-friendly, and backed by telehealth support.

The key innovation lies in human-centered design. Unlike the speculum, which is often described as “cold, intrusive, and painful,” Teal Health’s self-sampling device is built for comfort. Its design was developed with input from diverse women across different demographics, ensuring it was intuitive and easy to use—a crucial factor in increasing adoption.

In clinical trials, 97% of women reported that the self-screening method was easy to use, and 92% said they would choose it over an in-office exam. The implications for healthcare access are significant: women can now screen themselves from the privacy of their own homes, reducing barriers that have long discouraged participation.

The Future of Women’s Health: Designing with, Not Just for, Women

Beyond improving the physical experience of screening, Teal Health and IDEO are championing a broader shift in how women’s health products are designed and marketed. Historically, many medical devices have been developed without direct input from the people they are meant to serve, resulting in experiences that feel impersonal, clinical, or intimidating.

The team at Teal Health took a different approach—engaging women from diverse backgrounds at every stage of development to ensure their perspectives shaped not only the product itself but also the language, instructions, and overall experience.

“We don’t just need better technology—we need better trust,” one panelist emphasized. “When designing healthcare solutions, we have to ask: Would women actually use this? Would they feel confident in it? Would they recommend it to their friends?”

This shift is already having ripple effects in healthcare innovation, with more companies reconsidering how they communicate with patients. Packaging, onboarding experiences, and even the tone of healthcare messaging are all being reimagined to build confidence and reduce the sense of stigma that often accompanies women’s health issues.

A Global Health Opportunity

While Teal Health’s screening solution is initially launching in the U.S., the company sees global potential in markets where access to gynecological care is even more limited. In some countries, cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women, simply due to the lack of widespread screening programs.

By eliminating the need for in-person appointments and leveraging telehealth for result interpretation, at-home solutions could become a game-changer in global health efforts.

Final Thought: A New Era of Proactive Healthcare for Women

The conversation at SXSW underscored a critical truth: modern healthcare must be designed with the patient’s experience in mind. The success of self-sampling cervical cancer tests is not just about convenience—it’s about giving women control over their health, making preventive care more accessible, and ultimately saving lives.

As more innovators embrace human-centered design, the future of women’s healthcare looks increasingly patient-driven, inclusive, and empowering. The hope is that one day, cervical cancer will be not just preventable—but eradicated entirely.

Disclaimer: The above podcast episode was generated using AI based on an interview transcript. While the content remains true to the original conversation, the voices, tone, and delivery were synthesized and do not represent actual recordings of the speakers. This AI-generated format is intended to enhance accessibility and provide an alternative way to engage with the discussion.

Stay tuned—this year’s event continues to shape up to be even bigger!

See you tomorrow,
The Unofficially SXSW Team

📢 Unofficially SXSW is an independent publication and is not affiliated with SXSW.

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