Cervical cancer screening during perimenopause and menopause
Screening is recommended through age 65. The risk doesn’t stop when periods do.
Menopause does not end
the need to screen.
~50 yrs
Average age of cervical cancer diagnosis1
Right in the middle of menopause.
HPV
Can lie dormant for decades.3
A history of normal results doesn't mean HPV is not present.
20%
Diagnosed after 65 years old.1
Most were not adequately screened in their 50s and 60s.
Designed for the body you have today
Vaginal dryness and tissue changes from menopause can make speculum exams increasingly painful. The Teal Wand makes it easier.
Soft sponge tip — no rigid speculum
Tampon-sized profile, shallow insertion
Vaginal sample — no cervical access needed
Clinically validated: 96% precancer detection rate
18%
of clinical trial participants
were peri- or post-menopausal
98%
said the collection was painless
93%
said it was easy or very easy to use
Great! No anxiety or stress! Easy to use, simple step by step instructions. Love this option!!
62 yrs old
Age 65 or later — if you meet these criteria.
3 normal Pap tests or 2 normal HPV tests in the past 10 years
No history of cervical precancer
Confirmed with a provider who has reviewed your full screening history
Not sure where you stand? A Teal Medical provider will review your full history during your Intro Visit and tell you exactly where you are.
OBGYNs and Nurse Practitioners —licensed in your state.
Every Teal Medical patient is paired with a virtual provider who prescribes your kit, reviews your results, and is available via message or video.
Screening is now easier than ever
FDA-authorized
Virtual provider support
Results in ~1 week
What you might be wondering
Yes, absolutely. Going through menopause does not mean you stop screening for cervical cancer. The average age for a cervical cancer diagnosis is around 50 — right when many women are going through menopause.
As estrogen levels decline, vaginal tissue thins, loses elasticity, and becomes drier. This makes speculum insertion progressively more painful over time. Research shows roughly a third of women over 50 find cervical cancer screening painful.
The Teal Wand has the same profile as a standard tampon applicator, uses a soft sponge tip, and only requires a few inches of insertion. For women with dryness or tissue changes, this is significantly more tolerable than an in-clinic speculum exam. A Teal Medical provider will confirm your eligibility during your Intro Visit.
Yes. HPV can lie dormant in the body for years or decades before becoming active. It does not necessarily clear at menopause, and a history of normal results does not guarantee HPV is not present. This is one of the reasons cervical cancer screening guidelines continue through age 65.
It depends on the type. If you had a total hysterectomy that removed both the uterus and the cervix, you do not need to screen. If you had a partial or supracervical hysterectomy that left the cervix intact, you should continue screening on the standard schedule. If you are unsure which procedure you had, your surgical records or a provider can confirm.
Teal Health's SELF-CERV clinical trial specifically included women in perimenopause and menopause, who made up 18% of study participants. The trial confirmed equivalent clinical accuracy to in-clinic speculum collection, with a 96% detection rate for cervical precancer and 98% of participants describing the collection as painless.