Gaceta Medica de Mexico · 2025

Urine and menstrual blood as noninvasive alternatives for human papillomavirus detection: a literature review

By Pitol-Martínez R, Arellano-Jaras KA, Ruiz-Romero A et al.

At present, middle- and low-income countries including Mexico, are still using cervical smear or Pap as the first screening test for early cervical cancer and its precursor lesions detection. In addition, there are primary prevention programs that include vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), targeting girls and boys, as well as certain vulnerable groups. As part of the efforts to address and eliminate this health problem, research networks in various developed countries are focusing on new procedures that can help resolve this issue, and, in addition to the Pap test, they are already routinely performing molecular HPV testing. However, the availability of supplies and trained personnel for molecular or biochemical tests, as well as the psychosocial obstacles could be some challenges. Therefore, it is essential to implement novel methods for the collection of human fluids sample and for conducting molecular HPV tests in low-income countries with diverse cultural contexts. In this context, non-invasive self-collection of the sample could be a viable, affordable, and accurate solution for detecting the primary etiological factor of cervical lesions; thus, the early detection of those pathologies would potentially have a global impact. This review presents data supporting and justifying the present alternatives; it is not a fashion; it is a necessity.

doi.org/10.24875/gmm.m26001132Open accessPubMed 42965507Biomarkers