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Women showing symptoms of womb cancer can now access a less invasive test to help rule out the disease after it received approval for use in the UK. The new test, called WID-easy, utilizes technology similar to that used in Covid PCR tests.
Traditionally, diagnosing womb cancer required a transvaginal ultrasound or a hysteroscopy—an invasive procedure involving a camera-equipped tube inserted into the womb. In contrast, the WID-easy test is a simple swab sent to a lab for analysis. Scientists then examine DNA changes to determine whether womb cancer is present. If the test indicates a positive result, a biopsy would still be needed for confirmation.
Developed by researchers at University College London (UCL) and the University of Innsbruck, the test has been approved by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for women over 45 with abnormal uterine bleeding. It is now available for use in private clinics, with hopes that it will eventually be integrated into NHS care.
A 2023 study published in The Lancet Oncology found that WID-easy detects womb cancer as effectively as ultrasound while also reducing false positives. This could mean fewer unnecessary invasive procedures such as hysteroscopies and biopsies for healthy women.
Professor Martin Widschwendter, the test’s inventor, emphasized that WID-easy is the first of its kind in the UK, offering a non-invasive way to detect womb cancer. He highlighted its potential to fill a critical gap in women’s healthcare.
Athena Lamnisos, CEO of The Eve Appeal, noted that current diagnostic methods for womb cancer can be painful and distressing. She welcomed WID-easy as a less invasive alternative that could particularly benefit Black women, who are more likely to receive a late-stage diagnosis. She expressed hope that the test would provide reassurance to thousands of women experiencing abnormal bleeding while sparing them from unnecessary discomfort and anxiety.
