Podcast Summary: Dr. Chapa’s OBGYN Clinical Pearls

Episode: HPV? Check Your Pad.

Host: Dr. Chapa
Date: February 10, 2026

Episode Overview

Dr. Chapa dives into the evolving landscape of HPV (human papillomavirus) screening, focusing on the provocative concept of using menstrual products—specifically pads equipped with special collection strips—for HPV detection. Discussing new research, he balances clinical promise with practical limitations, regulatory status, and patient acceptance—all in his characteristically witty, evidence-based, and accessible style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Menstrual Products as Diagnostic Tools

• Dr. Chapa opens with a light anecdote about the awkwardness of buying pads/tampons, segueing into their potential utility for lab-based HPV testing—not just for collecting menstrual blood.
• “What if I told you that that menstrual blood collection device could also be used for HPV detection? Now I love this because I love the ingenuity, I love the thinking outside the box.” (Dr. Chapa, 02:37)

2. Current HPV Screening Landscape

• Traditional cytology (Pap smear/thin prep) is being replaced by primary HPV screening.
• New FDA-approved options exist for self-collected vaginal samples, even at home.
  • Reference to the "teal wand" by Teal Health, FDA-cleared for at-home collection.

3. Recent and Not-So-New Research

• Dr. Chapa highlights a February 2026 BMJ study from China:
  • Examined the use of a pad with a mini-collection strip for menstrual blood-based HPV testing.
  • Compared these samples to traditional clinician-collected cervical samples.
  • Found high concordance/sensitivity for high-risk HPV detection.
• He notes this is not the first such study: A 2022 Green Journal (Obstetrics & Gynecology) paper reported similarly high agreement (~94%) between menstrual collection and standard methods.

“So the idea of using menstrual blood to check for hpv, not new, but I love how this made the headlines, and it should, because it’s ingenious, it’s innovative.” (Dr. Chapa, 06:26)

4. Methodology of the Latest Study (20:14)

• Participants attached a mini-pad strip to the sanitary pad’s surface, collected it when saturated (>2/3 surface), and sent it in a preservative vial to the lab.
• Not simply sending in a used pad/tampon; technique matters.
• High sensitivity and specificity for HPV and high-grade lesions.
  • “Testing menstrual blood collected on the sanitary mini pad could offer a reliable, non invasive alternative...with comparable accuracy for detecting high grade cervical lesions.” (Direct quote from study, Dr. Chapa, 22:26)

5. Limitations & Open Questions (24:24)

• “However, here’s the question, guys. There’s things that need to be figured out.”
  • Variability in timing: First day vs. last day of period?
  • How much blood is needed?
  • Laboratory readiness for handling such specimens
  • Impact of other conditions (endometriosis, prior cervical treatment, etc.)
• Not part of any US guidelines; use of menstrual blood for HPV screening is still investigational.

6. Patient Acceptance & Practicality

• Recent JAMA Network Open survey: Only 20% of women preferred at-home self-sampling; 61% preferred clinician-collected samples.

“The findings suggest that there is an overall lower level of self confidence in performing the self sampling in the absence of a healthcare provider or outside of a medical setting.” (Survey cited by Dr. Chapa, 11:51)

• Barriers to wider adoption: comfort, familiarity, trust, and perceived reliability.
• At-home/self-collection could especially benefit underserved, rural, or traumatized populations.

7. Clinical Takeaways

• While technically possible and promising, menstrual blood HPV detection is not yet recommended for routine US screening.
• Current guidelines allow for self-collected vaginal samples but not menstrual blood samples.
• Awareness of innovation is important, but so is caution: “While you can, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily ready as a standard for cervical cancer screening.” (Dr. Chapa, 27:07)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Media Hype:
  “The headlines in the first week of February 2026 were like, oh, new researchers have found that HPV is in menstrual blood. No, duh. We’ve known that for about five to six years at least.” (Dr. Chapa, 06:26)

• On Clinical Readiness:
  “This approach is not...in any US screening guidelines...although some have said that self-collected vaginal specimens are totally okay. But the use of menstrual collected blood for HPV analysis right now is not part of any guideline.” (Dr. Chapa, 25:31)

• On the Research’s Wider Impact:
  “This has the potential to improve access to cervical cancer screening among underserved communities.” (Quoting study findings, 12:10)

• On Future Directions:
  “Will menstrual blood be part of that? It’s not clear right now. So a lot of questions still remain. But I do think it’s fascinating and I love the headlines where this comes out like something brand new, like somebody discovered this. Not so much.” (Dr. Chapa, 28:41)

Timeline of Important Segments

• 02:37 — Dr. Chapa introduces the main topic: HPV detection via menstrual pads.
• 06:26 — Media headlines and research context.
• 09:55–14:58 — Patient preferences for home vs. clinic-based HPV sampling.
• 15:40 — Review of previous research (2022 Green Journal study).
• 20:14 — Detailed walk-through of the new BMJ study design.
• 22:26 — Direct study findings on accuracy and reliability.
• 24:24 — Discussion of current limitations and critical gaps.
• 25:31 — Clarification regarding guideline recommendations.
• 27:07 — Caution about clinical readiness: "Just because you can..."
• 28:41 — Closing thoughts on medical innovation and future research needs.

Summary Table: HPV Screening Evolution

| Method | Clinical Status | Patient Acceptability | US Guidelines | |-----------------------------------|------------------|----------------------|-----------------------| | Clinician-collected samples | Standard | High | Recommended | | Self-collected vaginal specimens | FDA-cleared | ~20% prefer at home | Acceptable (in-clinic)| | Menstrual blood (pad/tampon strip)| Investigational | Unknown/Lower | Not recommended |

Final Clinical Pearls

• Technical possibility ≠ Clinical readiness: Menstrual blood can yield HPV results, but more research and validation are needed.
• Self-collection is evolving: Home testing is promising for select populations but not yet mainstream.
• Innovation needs context: Headlines may hype, but clinical practice changes only with robust, guideline-driven evidence.

Dr. Chapa’s take: Stay curious, review the primary literature, keep your clinical standards high, and don’t rush to adopt new tools until they’re truly proven and recommended.