News

Cervical cancer is the 11th most common cancer in women in England. The NHS cervical screening programme helps save around 5,000 lives per year.

This week is cervical screening awareness week. If you are due for a cervical screening appointment, contact your GP practice and book it today.

If you think you should have received an invite this year and have not had one, your GP practice can check your records.

Cervical screening is offered to women, some transgender men and some non-binary people aged 25 to 64. Cervical screening combines testing for a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV) with looking at cells for abnormalities. A cervical screening, or ‘smear test’, involves a health professional taking a sample from your cervix, using a speculum, which is then sent off to the lab.

If you, or someone you know, is affected by anxiety or finds it difficult to attend cervical screening, you can find more information and practical advice from Public Health England.

Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust also share tips and experiences for those who find accessing screening appointments difficult.

Find out the who, what, why, where and how of cervical screening on our dedicated page which includes videos and links to further information.