What is cervical screening?
Cervical screening is also known as a ‘smear test‘. It checks the health of your cervix and helps find any abnormal changes before they can turn into cancer.
The cervical screening is not a test to detect cancer. It is one of the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer.
The video below explains what happens at your appointment.
How does cervical screening help prevent cancer?
Cervical screening checks a sample of cells from your cervix for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
These types of HPV can cause abnormal changes to the cells in your cervix and are called “high risk” types of HPV.
If high risk types of HPV are found during screening, the sample of cells is also checked for abnormal cell changes.
If abnormal cells are found, they can be treated so they do not get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.
Who should have cervical screening?
All women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 should go for regular cervical screening.
| Age | When you should have cervical screening |
|---|---|
| Under 25 | Up to 6 months before you turn 25 |
| 25 to 49 | Every 3 years |
| 50 to 64 | Every 5 years |
| 65 or older | Only if a recent test was abnormal |
How do I make an appointment?
You’ll be sent an invitation through the NHS App, by text or by letter when it’s time to book your appointment.
You should wait for an invitation before booking, because you cannot have a smear test if you are not due.
When you are invited, use the link in your text message or contact the surgery to book your appointment.
Non-urgent advice: Important
Cervical screening during pregnancy
Contact your GP surgery if you’re pregnant and you get invited for cervical screening. If it’s for routine cervical screening, the GP or nurse may ask you to wait to make an appointment until about 3 months after your baby is due.
If you’ve previously had an abnormal result from a cervical screening test and need a repeat test, you can still have this while you’re pregnant. Your GP or midwife may ask you to have the test when you’re 3 to 6 months pregnant. Cervical screening is safe to have while you’re pregnant.
How to opt-out of cervical screening
If you do not want to be invited, you can opt out by:
- writing a signed letter to the surgery asking to be taken off the cervical screening list
- completing an informed choice form (‘opt-out form’)
You can complete and submit an opt-out form yourself, or do this at the surgery.