Researchers say a menstrual blood test could provide a simple alternative to cervical cancer screening.
The test uses a sanitary pad with a sample strip to detect HPV at home.
HPV causes most cases of cervical cancer.
A study of more than 3,000 women in China compared pad samples with clinician-collected cervical samples.
Results, published in BMJ, showed similar accuracy for detecting serious cervical abnormalities.
The pad-based test detected disease in nearly 95% of cases.
Researchers said the method could help women who avoid clinical screening.
Cancer Research UK called the approach promising but said more trials were needed.
The Eve Appeal welcomed the findings and stressed the value of offering screening choices.
