72 million American women have skipped or delayed screenings, shows report

Millions of women in the US have missed screenings for serious, often life-threatening conditions, a new survey has found.

The study, commissioned by the medtech company Hologic, has revealed a vast “screening action gap”.

Although women overwhelmingly said regular health screenings are important, an estimated 72 million had skipped or delayed a recommended screening. These missed screenings included those for significant health conditions like breast, cervical and colorectal cancers, which together kill more than 70,000 US women each year.

The survey asked 4,001 women about their experiences and perspectives on health. It found that while 90 per cent of American women recognised the importance of regular health screenings, more than 40 per cent had skipped or delayed a recommended test.

Women were most likely to have skipped screenings for breast (41 per cent), cervical (35 per cent) and colorectal (33 per cent) cancers. The main reasons for skipping or delaying a recommended screening included not knowing the screening was necessary or important for them, anxiety about tests, lack of time or concerns about pain or discomfort.

Stephen P. MacMillan, chairman, president and CEO of Hologic, said: “This survey, our first-ever focused on the US, reveals so much about the challenges women face when prioritising their health.

“It’s sobering to think that 72 million American women miss life-changing screenings because of cost, anxiety and prior negative experiences. Our hope is that this survey will be the impetus for more screening awareness, education and policy.”

The research found that only about four in 10 women said they were “very confident” in knowing which screenings they needed based on their age and risk factors. More broadly, many women said it is hard for them to find the health information they need.

Women who discuss screenings with healthcare professionals are more likely to get screened. However, these conversations about screenings often do not occur.

The Hologic survey suggested that among women ages 35 and over, the recommended age group for skin cancer screening, only about half said they had spoken to a healthcare professional about getting screened for skin cancer, and even fewer had been screened.

More than six in 10 women, including 75 per cent of women with children in their home, said it was hard to make their health a top priority. Among these women, the top two barriers were feeling overwhelmed and struggling with their mental or emotional health.