What is a 'smear test'?
Cervical screening is a free health test available on the NHS as part of the national cervical screening programme. It helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for a virus called high-risk HPV and cervical cell changes. It is not a test for cancer. A cervical screening test (sometimes known as a smear test) is carried out to check for abnormal cells on a cervix. The cervix is the entrance to the womb and is inside the vagina.
Cervical screening tests for a virus called high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause cervical cell changes to develop into cervical cancer, which currently affects around 3,300 women every year, so it’s an important test to have.
For more information please visit the link below:
Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust | Cervical Cancer Charity
Where can I access a smear test?
If you are registered with a GP and eligible for smear testing you will get a letter inviting you to attend a cervical screening appointment. You should then arrange your appointment at your GP practice for a time when you think you will not be on your period.
Our service does not routinely offer cervical smear testing. If you are attending one of our clinics for another reason, we may be able to provide a cervical smear test but only if the practitioner is qualified to take smears.
If you have symptoms of cervical cancer or are worried, please contact your GP for further discussion and examination.
Who should have a cervical screening test?
NHS guidelines are for all women (or anyone that has a cervix) to have regular cervical screening from age 25 to 64.
Aged 25 to 64 and 364 days – every 5 years
If you are aged 65 or over, you will no longer be invited for cervical screening (a smear test) unless you are being followed up for cell changes (abnormal cells).
People with a cervix and living with HIV should have their smears annually.
What happens during a cervical screening test?
Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It looks for abnormal cells in the cervix. Abnormal cells can develop into cancer if left untreated.
The test involves using a soft brush to take a small sample of cells from the surface of your cervix. The sample is put into a small plastic container and sent to a laboratory. It is tested for the types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. If you have a negative result for the most common types of HPV that cause cervical cancer, your risk of cervical cancer is very low and there is no need to check for abnormal cells even if you have had these in the past.
If you have a positive result for HPV the lab will check the sample for abnormal cells. Abnormal cells are not cancer, but they could develop into cancer if left untreated.
As a next step the screening programme may offer you another examination (called a colposcopy) to look at your cervix more closely. If abnormal cells are found during colposcopy the cells will be removed. This is how screening can prevent cervical cancer.
For more information on cervical screening please visit the Cancer Matters Wessex website
If you have symptoms, contact your GP surgery about having an examination. Cervical screening is not for people who have symptoms.
Accessible information on Cervical Screening
The links and embedded video below offer some additional information on cervical screening.
Please visit this link to MacMillan's Understanding cervical screening and CIN leaflet