Cervical Screening

 

What is the NHS Cervical Screening?

Cervical screening (sometimes called a smear test) is a free NHS Health check. It helps to prevent cervical cancer, but it does not test for cancer. The screening looks for a very common virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). If high-risk HPV is found in your sample, the same sample is checked for cells changes.

Why is cervical screening important?

HPV is passed on mainly through skin-to-skin sexual contact.  Around 8 in 10 people will be exposed to HPV at some point in their lives. In most cases, the immune system clears the virus naturally within two years without causing any problems. If the virus does not clear, it can cause changes to cervical cells. If these changes are not checked or treated, they can increase the risk of cervical cancer over time.

Who is invited?

Cervical screening in England is provided through the national programme overseen by NHS England. You are usually invited if you are aged 25 to 64 years old, have a cervix and are registered with a GP in England. 

Invitations are sent automatically via NHS App or by post. If HPV is not found, you are usually invited again every 5 years. 

Further information about cervical screening can be found here:
 

 

Requesting an appointment for a cervical screening

If you think you are due or have missed an invitation, please complete the cervical screening request form to request a cervical screening (smear test) appointment.
Your request will be reviewed and you will contacted to book the appointment if needed. 

 

Cervical screening request form

 

If you do not want a cervical screening

Cervical screening helps reduce the risk of cervical cancer, but it is up to you to decide whether to take part or not. 

If you do not want to be invited for cervical screening, you can ask to opt out. You can do this by writting to the surgery or calling reception asking to be taken off. One of our nurses will then contact you with further information.  Alternatively, you can fill in the form on the Cervical Screening Administration service (CSAS) website. You can submit the form yourself, or ask the surgery to send it for you.

If you change your mind

If you change your mind later, you can ask to go back on the cervical screening by asking the surgery to add you back to the invite list at any time.

 

Information in multiple languages:

Cervical Screening: Leaflet for women and people with a cervix considering screening  “Helping you Decide”

Cervical Screening: Having a Colposcopy Appointment 

 

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