The doctor is in — the mailbox, that is.

You can now do self-administered tests for everything from thyroid function to HIV in the privacy of your own home — and that list continues to grow, as the Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first at-home cervical cancer test.

While the tests can make it easier for people to access health care and can be helpful for those who have extreme anxiety about sensitive or invasive medical exams, experts warn that most of the tests cannot replace an actual in-person visit.

Here’s what doctors say you can test for at home, and when you should make the trek to your physician’s office.

What kinds of at-home tests are available?

There are two kinds at “at-home tests.”

In one type, the patient collects the sample and sends it off to a lab; the new cervical cancer test is like this.

The other gives an instant result — think COVID-19 and pregnancy tests.

What are the benefits of at-home tests?

HIV home-testing kits can improve rates of diagnosing sexually transmitted infections in rural communities and help people who are nervous about going to the doctor to seek a sensitive test, said Dr. Joseph Cherabie, an infectious diseases specialist in St. Louis.

“You really want to get people to care as quickly as possible, but some people could be very anxious about that results as well,” Cherabie said. “And they have very negative reactions.”

Labs are required to report a positive HIV test, instead of putting the onus on the patient who took the test, Cherabie said, and and, often, the patient is matched up with HIV support services.

“If you are part of a sexual and gender minority community, going to a doctor’s office can be full of a lot of historical trauma, and you may prefer to just do testing at home without anyone judging you or asking you invasive questions about your sex life,” Cherabie said.

The new cervical cancer test — which tests for strains of human papillomavirus, or HPV — involves a testing swab that’s like a tampon, said Dr. Susan Modesitt, a gynecologic oncologist at Emory University in Atlanta.

It is not, Modesitt said, a replacement for a Pap smear, the exam in which a metal speculum is inserted in the vagina to scrape cervix cells. A doctor’s visit also involves a pelvic exam, a chance to talk about abnormal bleeding — a sign of endometrial cancer — and other symptoms and issues, like menopause or STIs.

“There are so many other reasons to see your doctor and get an exam outside of a cervical cancer screening,” she said.

I live in a rural area — can I take an at-home test?

Some at-home tests can replace a trip to the doctor’s office. That’s especially true in rural areas, where it can be difficult to get a colonoscopy.

“The colonoscopy requires a pre-op, and you have to drive maybe 70 miles for it,” said Dr. Steven Furr, board chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians who practices in rural Alabama. “You get anesthesia. It’s actually almost like a surgical procedure in many ways.

“So, for a lot of people, that’s pretty arduous. That’s where an at-home test can come in handy.”

But, Furr said, if your test reveals issues, you need to go to your doctor. Plus, patients should always discuss test results with their physician instead of interpreting them on their own, he said.

Who shouldn’t do at-home tests?

If you have symptoms of what you’re testing for, go to the doctor.

At-home colon cancer tests aren’t the right option for people with a history of colon cancer or high-risk conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, said Dr. Zachariah Foda, a gastroenterologist at Johns Hopkins. He added that they’re also not recommended for people who are having GI symptoms.

While there are tests for many things — running anywhere from $15 to $400, depending on what is being evaluated — Furr said it’s essential to make sure that your test is FDA-approved so you can better trust the results.

“Anytime we get people involved in their own health care and help them understand what’s going on, I think that’s a good thing and it gives us a chance to talk,” he said. “Any kind of screening is better than no screening.”

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Straccetti di manzo, which translates roughly from the Italian to “little rags of beef,” is a trattoria staple. The cooking is minimal and quick, making this ideal for a weeknight dinner, but the beef must be thinly sliced.

In this recipe from our cookbook “ Milk Street Backroads Italy,” we freeze the meat for about 20 minutes to firm it a bit, which allows a knife to glide through the grain. After a quick sear in a hot skillet, the steak slices go directly onto a bed of peppery arugula and sweet-tart tomatoes. We prefer tri-tip steak for this recipe, as it has great flavor and a tender texture.

Don’t dress the arugula and tomatoes too far in advance or they will wilt and turn soggy. Wait until after the beef is sliced before tossing the veggies with the oil, lemon juice and salt. Also, don’t stir the beef during the first three minutes of cooking. Allowing it to cook undisturbed will give the meat a chance to develop flavorful browning.

Balsamic vinegar, reduced as it deglazes the pan, acts as tangy-sweet dressing when combined with vegetables. Shaved Parmesan, along with black pepper and a final drizzle of olive oil, are perfect finishing touches.

Start to finish: 45 minutes (25 minutes active)

Servings: 4 to 6

Ingredients:

1½ pounds beef tri-tip steak

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

5-ounce container baby arugula

1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more to serve

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 medium garlic cloves, smashed and peeled

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

Parmesan cheese, for shaving

Directions:

Place the steak on a plate and freeze, uncovered, until partially frozen, about 20 minutes. Using a sharp knife, slice the beef against the grain on the diagonal no thicker than ¼ inch. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper; toss to coat. On a deep, wide platter, toss the arugula and tomatoes with 1 tablespoon of the oil, the lemon juice and ¼ teaspoon salt.

In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil until barely smoking. Add the garlic and pepper flakes; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the beef in an even layer; cook without stirring until only a little pinkness remains and some liquid has been released, about 3 minutes. Stir, redistribute in an even layer and cook until no longer pink, about 1 minute. Using tongs, place the steak on the vegetables, leaving the garlic in the pan.

Add the balsamic to the pan and bring to a simmer over medium-high; cook, scraping up any browned bits, until slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Discard the garlic; pour the balsamic over the steak. Shave Parmesan over the top, then finish with additional oil and black pepper.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For more recipes, go to Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street at 177milkstreet.com/ap

NEW YORK (AP) — A Shaquille O’Neal docuseries about his time at Reebok’s basketball division and Mario Kart World on Nintendo’s Switch 2 are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Ariana Madix returns to Fiji as host of a new season of “Love Island USA.,” TikTok star Addison Rae offers her debut album “Addison” and then there’s “Presence,” Steven Soderbergh’s movie entirely from the perspective a ghost.

New movies to stream from June 2-8

— “Presence,” one of two excellent Steven Sodebergh-directed, David Koepp-scripted movies released this year, arrives Tuesday on Hulu. The film, a nifty, experimental little thriller, is filmed entirely from the perspective a ghost inside a home a family has just moved into. From a floating point-of-view, we watch as the mysterious presence, piecing together a past trauma while observing the unfolding a new one. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called “Presence” “a heady experiment that transcends the somewhat gimmicky-on-paper premise — something Soderbergh manages to do alarmingly well and regularly.”

— Tyler Perry ’s latest, “Straw,” stars Taraji P. Henson as a struggling single mother who, desperate for money to pay for her daughter’s prescriptions, robs a bank. The film, co-starring Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor and Sinbad, debuts Friday, June 6 on Netflix.

— For anyone still mourning the death of Gene Hackman, a new series streaming from Thursday on the Criterion Channel collects some of the late actor ’s best films. That includes William Friedkin’s seminal 1971 New York thriller “The French Connection,” Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 masterpiece “The Conversation” and Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums,” a movie in which Hackman’s strained relationship with the director has been a subject of conversation following his death. But also don’t miss Arthur Penn’s 1975 “Night Moves,” a quintessential ’70s neo-noir that gave Hackman one of his most indelible roles in the private eye Harry Moseby.

— Film Writer Jake Coyle

New music to stream from June 2-8

— Has there been a more seamless transition from TikTok social media star to full-fledged pop music force than that of Addison Rae? On Friday, June 6, she will release her debut LP “Addison,” one of the year’s most anticipated releases – from the Lana Del Rey-channeling “Diet Pepsi” to the trip-hop “Headphones On.” She’s managed to tap into a kind of late-internet cool through a hybrid approach to pop music and a lackadaisical singing style. Could it be “Addison” summer? Only time will tell.

— Need your Cynthia Erivo fix between “Wicked” films? She’s got your back. The multihyphenate will release her sophomore LP, “I Forgive You” on Friday, June 6, a collection of big belts and even bigger vulnerabilities, with gorgeous songs that sound as though they were ripped straight from Erivo’s diary. Listen closely and carefully for maximum enjoyment.

— Anyone who thinks the mainstream music listening world has lost interest in rock bands needs to simply look at Turnstile, the Baltimore hard-core punk band that could. They’ve largely left those harsh sounds behind and have opted for something more melodic and accessible — which is, arguably, part of the appeal for those curious parties — but they’ve maintained their hard-core ethos and edge. “Never Enough” is gearing up to be the biggest release of their career so far, and we say it’s time to get on board. And get in the pit.

— Music Writer Maria Sherman

New television to stream from June 2-8

— Ariana Madix has returned to Fiji as host of a new season of “Love Island USA.” The new episodes have big shoes to fill. Last season was the top-rated reality series of 2024. It also broke through the cultural zeitgeist with social media memes and water cooler conversation. Madix says she’s not worried about duplicating that success, and wants the contestants to focus on “creating their own lane by being truly themselves and bringing themselves to it, you’ll never lose by doing that.” The show premieres Tuesday and will air six nights a week on Peacock.

— As a teenager, Kristin Cavallari was a breakout of the MTV reality series “Laguna Beach” because of her unfiltered honesty. She’s carried that with her throughout other reality shows and to her podcast “Let’s Be Honest.” Cameras rolled when Cavallari took the podcast on the road in March. That will air as the docuseries “Honestly Cavallari: The Headline Tour” beginning Wednesday on E!. It streams on Peacock.

— Shaquille O’Neal also has his own docuseries coming to Netflix Wednesday called “Power Moves with Shaquille O’Neal.” It’s an inside look at his efforts as president of Reebok’s basketball division. Allen Iverson is vice president. Both have a history with the brand. In 1992, O’Neal signed a deal with Reebok as a rookie playing for the Orlando Magic. Iverson famously inked a lifetime deal with the brand one year prior in 1991. The series will show the two pro ballplayers work to make Reebok Basketball cool and competitive in the sneaker market. It drops Wednesday.

— Get your feel-good TV fix with Apple TV+’s new show, “Stick.” It stars Owen Wilson as Pryce, a broke and divorced former pro golfer who could use a break. He finds it in a teen phenom named Santi and volunteers to be his coach. The show is about chosen family and second chances. “Stick” premieres Wednesday.

— Alicia Rancilio

New video games to play week of June 2-8

— Nintendo fans worldwide are bracing themselves for the arrival of the Switch 2, a souped-up version of the eight-year-old console with new social features meant to draw players into online gaming. The highlight of the launch lineup is Mario Kart World, which features a Grand Prix for up to 24 drivers and introduces a sprawling open environment where “everywhere is your racecourse.” Other Day One arrivals include upgraded versions of the last two Legend of Zelda adventures, and some popular third-party games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Split Fiction will be making their Nintendo debuts. The next generation takes the stage Thursday, June 5.

— Lou Kesten