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What is a Pap smear?
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Cervical screening checks the health of your cervix and helps find any abnormal changes before they can turn into cancer. It's not a test for cancer, it's a test to help prevent cancer. Cervical screening checks a sample of cells from your cervix for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
- Your Results
Your cervical screening results are usually sent to you in a...
- How to Book
Your invitation letter will tell you where you can go for...
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- When You'll Be Invited
How often you are invited depends on your age. When you'll...
- What Happens at Your Appointment
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- HPV
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- Your Results
Cervical screening, which used to be called smear test, is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer. It's offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64. What is cervical screening? Why it's important. When you'll be invited. How to book. What happens at your appointment. Your results.
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- Why We Offer Cervical Screening
- Who We Invite
- Cervical Cancer
- HPV and Cervical Cancer
- What Affects Your Chances of Getting Cervical Cancer
- How Cervical Screening Works
- Having Cervical Screening
- Cervical Screening Results
- What Happens to Samples After Screening
- Colposcopy
NHS cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer. It saves thousands of lives from cervical cancer each year in the UK [footnote 1] [footnote 2]. In England cervical screening currently prevents 70% of cervical cancer deaths. If everyone attended screening regularly, 83% could be prevented [footnote 3].
Cervical screening is for women and people with a cervix. We offer screening every 3 years from age 25 to 49 and every 5 years from age 50 to 64. This is because most cervical cancers develop between these ages. First invitations arrive a few months before people turn 25. You can book your appointment as soon as you get your invitation. We invite s...
Cervical cancer happens when cells in the cervix grow in an uncontrolled way and build up to form a lump (also called a tumour). As the tumour grows, cells can eventually spread to other parts of the body and become life-threatening. Your cervix is the lowest part of your uterus (or womb), and it is found at the top of your vagina.
Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is very common. Most people will get the virus at some point in their life. It is spread through close skin to skin contact during any type of sexual activity with a man or woman. HPV can stay in the body for many years. It can stay at very low or undetectable ...
Having cervical screening lowers your chances of getting cervical cancer. Screening finds abnormal cells so they can be removed before they become cancer. HPV is found on the skin around the whole genital area and can be spread through any type of sexual activity. This means that condoms or dental dams can help prevent infection, but they don’t pro...
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 ...
Before your appointment
Cervical screening is usually carried out by a female nurse or doctor. If you want to make sure a woman carries out your test, you can ask for this when you make your appointment. Your appointment should be on a day when you are not having a period. If you don’t have periods, you can be screened at any time. Please don’t use any vaginal medications, lubricants or creams in the 2 days before you have your test because they can affect the results. Please talk to your nurse or doctor if you: 1....
At your appointment
The actual test only takes 1 to 2 minutes. The whole appointment usually takes about 10 minutes. The nurse or doctor will ask you to undress from your waist down (or just remove your underwear if you are wearing a loose skirt) and lie on a bed with your knees bent and apart. You will have a paper sheet or towel to cover your stomach and hips. They will put a device called a speculum into your vagina and open it gently. This allows them to see your cervix. The speculum is usually made of plast...
The nurse or doctor will tell you when you can expect your results letter. There are 4 possible results.
Depending on your screening result your screening sample may be kept by the laboratory for at least 10 years. Your result will be kept on a national secure computer system so that the NHS can compare your latest result with ones you have had before.
Colposcopy is usually carried out in a hospital clinic. A specialist will take a close look at your cervix using a magnifying lens with a light (a ‘colposcope’). They may take a small tissue sample (a biopsy) to check any areas of your cervix which look unusual. If the abnormal cells are serious, you may need treatment to remove them. Thishelps pre...
Jul 20, 2024 · A Pap smear looks for cervical cancer. It's one option for cervical cancer screening in anyone who has a cervix. A Pap smear also is called a Pap test. The Pap test usually is done at the same time as a pelvic exam. During a pelvic exam, a healthcare professional checks the reproductive organs.
Cervical screening. What is cervical screening? All women aged 25 to 64 are invited by letter to cervical screening to check the health of their cervix. Cervical screening used to be called a smear test. Everyone with a cervix should go for cervical screening. The cervix is the opening to your womb from your vagina.
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Oct 25, 2021 · 1. Who’s it for? Cervical screening is for everyone with a cervix, regardless of sexual or gender identity. This includes women, some transgender men and some non-binary people. In the UK it’s offered to those aged 25 to 64. And you’ll need to be registered as female with a doctor to be invited.
Mar 29, 2024 · Why Is a Pap Smear Done? A Pap smear looks for changes in cervical cells before they turn into cancer. If you have cancer, finding it early gives you the best chance of fighting it.
