Comparison of cervical screening at 6- and 12-weeks postnatal: a paired-sample feasibility study

Comparison of cervical screening at 6- and 12-weeks postnatal: a paired-sample feasibility study | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 23 January 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Comparison of cervical screening at 6- and 12-weeks postnatal: a paired-sample feasibility study Authors : Victoria A. Cullimore , Tessa Dean , Kim Chu 0009-0006-0692-1451 , Adam Brentnall , K. Denton , Katherine Hunt , Alexandra Sargent , … Show All … , Laura Johns , Katharine Edey , Sarah L. Coleridge , Jane Borley , Rebecca Newhouse 0000-0003-3162-2438 , Holly Baker-Rand 0009-0005-9301-6929 , Lorna McWilliams , Emma Davidson 0000-0003-0284-8630 , and Jo Morrison 0000-0003-0000-520X [email protected] Show Fewer Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176915893.36247272/v1 Published BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Version of record Peer review timeline 145 views 79 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Objective Feasibility of a paired-sample study comparing cervical screening, and urine self-sampling, at 6- and 12-weeks postnatal. Design Paired-sample feasibility study. Setting Acute hospital. Population or Sample Females within 6-weeks of childbirth. Methods Paired-sample study comparing cervical screening and high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) testing from clinician-taken samples and urine self-samples at 6- and 12-weeks postnatal. Main Outcome Measures Uptake rates, patient-reported outcomes, adverse events, HPV detection, sensitivity and specificity. Results Of 245 potential participants, 115 (47%) consented, 102 (89%) and 96 (83%) attended their 6- and 12-week week screening visits, respectively. Median pain scores for cervical screening did not differ (6-weeks = 1 (range 0-8); 12-weeks = 1 (range 0-7); p = 0.76). Most would be happy for future screening at 6-week postnatal (97/102 (95%) and 85/95 (89%) when asked at 6- and 12-week study visits, respectively; p = 0.11). Agreement rate of clinician-taken HPV tests between 6- and 12-weeks was 94.8% (91/96, 95% confidence interval (CI), 88.4%-97.8%), with no inadequate combination HPV/cytology tests (sensitivity 80% (95%CI) 44.4-97.5; specificity 96.5% (95%CI 90.1-99.3); negative predictive value (NPV) 97.6% (95%CI 91.8-99.7). Relative to 12-week clinician-taken samples, urine self-sampling may have lower sensitivity (e.g., 6-week: sensitivity 60.0% (95%CI 26.2-87.8); specificity 96.5% (95%CI 90.1-99.3); NPV 95.4% (95%CI 88.6-98.7)). Conclusions A paired-sample study of cervical screening at 6- and 12-weeks is feasible. Inadequacy rates of cervical screening were low, with high agreement. Urine self-sampling may be less sensitive in this population. An adequately powered study is needed to test for non-inferiority. Supplementary Material File (pincs-1 bjog v13 20260121.docx) Download 136.97 KB File (pincs-1 table 1.docx) Download 17.84 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 23 January 2026 Peer review timeline Published BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Version of Record 1 Apr 2026 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Keywords cytology: cervical cytology: screening diagnostic studies gynaecological oncology puerperium Authors Affiliations Victoria A. Cullimore Somerset NHS Foundation Trust View all articles by this author Tessa Dean Somerset NHS Foundation Trust View all articles by this author Kim Chu 0009-0006-0692-1451 Queen Mary University of London Wolfson Institute of Population Health View all articles by this author Adam Brentnall Queen Mary University of London Wolfson Institute of Population Health View all articles by this author K. Denton NHS North Bristol NHS Trust View all articles by this author Katherine Hunt NHS North Bristol NHS Trust View all articles by this author Alexandra Sargent Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust View all articles by this author Laura Johns Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust View all articles by this author Katharine Edey Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust View all articles by this author Sarah L. Coleridge Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust View all articles by this author Jane Borley Royal Cornwall Hospital View all articles by this author Rebecca Newhouse 0000-0003-3162-2438 Somerset NHS Foundation Trust View all articles by this author Holly Baker-Rand 0009-0005-9301-6929 Somerset NHS Foundation Trust View all articles by this author Lorna McWilliams The University of Manchester Manchester Centre for Health Psychology View all articles by this author Emma Davidson 0000-0003-0284-8630 NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre View all articles by this author Jo Morrison 0000-0003-0000-520X [email protected] Somerset NHS Foundation Trust View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 145 views 79 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Victoria A. Cullimore, Tessa Dean, Kim Chu, et al. Comparison of cervical screening at 6- and 12-weeks postnatal: a paired-sample feasibility study. Authorea . 23 January 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176915893.36247272/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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