Top 5 well woman articles of 2025

Welcome to another edition of Countdown to 2026, and thank you for visiting the Contemporary OB/GYN website throughout 2025. Below, take a look at the top well woman stories published this year, and catch up on anything you may have missed.

1. DARE to PLAY sildenafil cream becomes commercially available for women in select states

Daré Bioscience announced the commercial availability of DARE to PLAY, a topical sildenafil cream developed for women, in select US states through a Section 503B outsourcing facility. The nonhormonal product is intended for on-demand use to enhance genital blood flow and arousal sensations and is supported by published clinical and toxicology data. Evidence includes a phase 2b randomized trial in premenopausal women with female sexual arousal disorder that showed exploratory improvements in arousal sensation and related domains in specific patient subgroups, although coprimary endpoints were not met in the overall population. The product is not FDA approved, as compounded drugs are not evaluated by the agency for safety or efficacy, and the company reported plans to pursue full FDA approval while expanding availability to additional states.

2. American Cancer Society updates cervical cancer screening guidelines

The American Cancer Society released updated cervical cancer screening guidelines that incorporate self-collection of vaginal specimens for human papillomavirus testing and revised criteria for discontinuing screening in average-risk individuals with a cervix. The recommendations continue to endorse initiation of screening at age 25 with primary HPV testing every 5 years through age 65, while recognizing self-collected HPV testing as an acceptable alternative for individuals aged 25 to 65 years when clinician collection is not feasible. For those screened with self-collected specimens who test HPV-negative, the guideline recommends repeat testing at 3-year intervals. The update also clarifies exit criteria, advising discontinuation of screening after age 65 only for individuals with adequate recent negative results, and emphasizes that patients with prior cervical disease or specific risk factors should continue screening beyond this age.

3. Cervical cancer screening declines post-COVID

A population-based analysis published in PLOS Global Public Health found that non-adherence to cervical cancer screening increased following the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Using national survey data from 2019 and 2022, investigators reported that the proportion of women aged 21 to 65 years who were overdue for Papanicolaou screening rose from 19.2% to 25.8%. The increase was more pronounced among non-Hispanic Black women and individuals with lower educational attainment. The study also identified a concurrent rise in lack of awareness about human papillomavirus vaccination, particularly in underrepresented populations, highlighting persistent disparities in preventive care and the need for targeted strategies to restore screening uptake and vaccine knowledge.

4. New test identifies hereditary cancer presence with high accuracy

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet developed a functional assay to classify hereditary cancer–related BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic variants of uncertain significance, with potential implications for earlier detection and targeted management of cancer risk. Using a CRISPR-based approach, investigators evaluated the functional impact of 54 BRCA variants and were able to reclassify the majority as either likely benign or likely pathogenic, improving interpretability for clinical use. The assay identified specific regions critical to BRCA2 function and demonstrated the value of incorporating sensitivity testing to better assess variant effects. Investigators noted that wider application of this approach could support more accurate genetic counseling and personalized cancer prevention strategies.

5. Identification and management of patients at increased risk for breast cancer

This article outlines a structured approach for obstetrics and gynecology clinicians to identify individuals at increased lifetime risk of breast cancer and to counsel on appropriate screening and risk-reduction strategies. It emphasizes universal breast cancer risk assessment by age 25, with ongoing reassessment as family history and personal risk factors evolve, including genetic mutations, high-risk breast lesions, prior chest radiation, and elevated lifetime risk based on validated models. For patients identified as high risk, recommended management options include intensive surveillance with mammography and supplemental breast MRI, consideration of chemoprevention, and, in selected cases, risk-reducing mastectomy. The authors stress the importance of individualized, shared decision-making and referral to genetic counseling and breast specialists to support early detection and informed prevention planning.