One Year Since Our First Patient

One year ago today, we saw our first patient. She was in California, screening for cervical cancer at home with the same accuracy as an in-clinic exam, and getting a critical piece of her preventive care done without the appointment, the drive, or the wait. 

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★★★★★

“So quick and easy! Not to mention painless! It was a great first experience self-screening.” - Angela

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After launching there, we rolled out state by state and expanded nationwide by January. Every launch came with a wave of glowing reviews and messages from women about what this experience meant to them. Describing what a relief it was, how much easier it was than they had expected, and how good it felt to finally have this done.

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“It was such a relief to be able to do this in the comfort of my own home. The Teal Wand is really paving a wonderful avenue for the progress of women's health!” - Katelyn

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“It couldn’t have been any easier. Great kit and instructions, easy start to finish.” - Dawn

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“After 20 years of avoiding an ob dr, I finally found the answer to all of my problems. Thank you Teal Health!!!“ -Britanny 

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A year later, thousands across all fifty states have followed her. Watching that unfold, one thing became clear: women were ready for this, and we were ready for them.

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Designing Cervical Cancer Screening for Real Life

When we founded Teal, the premise was simple. Getting a cervical cancer screening was too difficult, and that difficulty was leading millions of women to fall behind on a preventive step that matters, because the traditional process did not fit the realities of most women's lives.

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An in-person appointment often requires taking time off work, finding childcare, and getting through an uncomfortable speculum exam. For many women, the clinical setting also brings up past trauma or physical pain. For millions of others, the logistical hurdles are the hardest part. There is no OB-GYN within a reasonable drive. Local clinics are closed to new patients. Waitlists stretch out for months. Much of what gets labeled as poor patient follow-through is really a reflection of how difficult the system is to navigate.

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For decades, the standard response to falling screening rates was to remind women to call their doctors. We believed that if we designed a screening experience around how women actually live, they would engage with their health far more proactively.

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The Proof Is in the Patients

This past year proved that hypothesis right. Women in every zip code, every stage of life, and every relationship with the healthcare system found their way to Teal.

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Over the last twelve months, we have served busy women who wanted a more convenient option that fit their daily routine. We have seen patients who had gone decades without a screening. We have reached women living hours from the nearest OB-GYN. Along the way, we caught abnormal results early enough to matter.

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The feedback from our patients has been consistently strong:

• 4.95 stars: The average rating patients give the Teal experience.
• 94% preference: The percentage of participants in our clinical trials who preferred Teal over a traditional speculum exam.
• 98% first-try success: Women who collected a valid, lab-ready sample on their very first attempt.

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One thing that stands out is the reach. Of the women who screened with Teal over the past year, 53% were overdue for screening, often by several years. Another 16% came from rural zip codes where routine preventive care can be hard to access. But we also served women in every kind of community, from major metros to small towns, and from women who were on schedule with their care to women who had never screened at all. Teal is designed for all of them.

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One patient told us that using Teal was an "absolute game changer" that relieved her deep anxiety around screening. Her story represents so many others. When the traditional route involves long drives, physical discomfort, and endless waitlists, putting off an appointment is understandable. Our goal is to make getting care straightforward again.

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A Turning Point for Cervical Cancer Screening

This year has been a turning point for cervical cancer screening more broadly. Our peer-reviewed data, published in JAMA Network Open, showed 96% sensitivity, matching the accuracy of clinician-collected samples. That evidence is part of a growing body of research on self-collection, which has been reflected in updated guidance from major institutions that now recommend primary HPV testing as the preferred approach to cervical cancer screening, and recognize self-collection as an accurate and accepted method:

• The American Cancer Society and HRSA updated their official guidelines this year to include self-collection.
• Beginning in January 2027, insurers will be federally required to cover self-collected screening and necessary follow-up care.
• Health systems and employers are adopting Teal rapidly as they look for women's health benefits that employees actually use.

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At-home cervical cancer screening is quickly becoming part of the standard of care.

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Looking Ahead to Year Two

We still have plenty of work ahead. We are expanding our telehealth practice, partnering directly with health systems, and growing our corporate benefit offerings. We are also collaborating closely with payors to ensure coverage is seamless when the 2027 insurance requirements take effect.

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Getting to this point took an incredible community of people. I am deeply grateful to the researchers, clinicians, and advocates who supported this work early on, and to our internal team that took us from a single-state launch to nationwide coverage in just a few months. Most importantly, I want to thank the thousands of women who trusted us with their health, starting with our very first patients.

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A year ago, people wondered if women would be willing to use an at-home screening device. Today, the results speak for themselves. Women want care that fits into their real lives, and when that option exists, they take it. I am looking forward to what we will accomplish in year two.

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