The Facts: Cervical Screening
What is cervical screening?
Cervical screening, also called a smear test, is a free health test.
The NHS offers it. It is part of the national programme for cervical screening. It helps prevent cervical cancer.
It does this by checking for the virus, HPV, and for changes to cervical cells. It is not a test for cancer.
Who is invited for cervical screening?
In the UK, everyone is invited for cervical screening if they:
- between the ages of 25 and 54
- registered as female with a GP surgery
You may get your first invite up to 6 months before you turn 25. You can book an appointment as soon as you get the invite.
How often will I be invited for cervical screening?
Your cervical screening result will help decide when you get invited for the next one. You may receive an invitation.
- every year
- every 3 years
- every 5 years
- straight to colposcopy for more tests.
Helpful tips for cervical screening
- Ask to book a longer appointment if you think you may need more time during or after your test
- Take someone you trust with you, to wait with you or be in the room during the appointment
- Tell your nurse if you are anxious or if there is anything that makes the test difficult for you
- If you feel comfortable, wearing a skirt or dress may help you feel more covered
- Ask for a smaller speculum if you find the standard size too uncomfortable
Read more tips at www.jostrust.org.uk/smeartest
What happens at the appointment?
You nurse gives you a private space to undress from the waist down and asks you to lie on a bed.
They will place a clean speculum into your vagina. A speculum is a hollow cylinder with a rounded edge, usually made of plastic or metal. It opens so your nurse can see your cervix.
Your nurse will then use a small, soft brush to gather cells from your cervix.
That’s it. We will send your sample of cells for testing. You should get your results by post within 2 weeks.
More information and support
We have lots of information and support on HPV. We cover cervical screening. It includes cell changes. These are abnormal cells. They can become cervical cancer. This includes:
- our website with information reviewed by experts at jostrust.org.uk/information
- a wide range of information resources at jostrust.org.uk/shop
- our Ask the Expert service jostrust.org.uk/ask-expert
- an online forum at jostrust.org.uk/forum
- a dedicated Helpline on 0808 802 8000 – check the opening hours at jostrust.org.uk/helpline
Thanks and references
Thank you to everyone who shared experiences. Your help let us develop this information. Experts review all our information. They check it for clinical accuracy.
Thanks to those who reviewed this.
For references email info@jostrust.org.uk
Support booklet for Cervical Screening
The Facts:
HPV Vaccine
What is the HPV vaccine?
The HPV vaccine helps protect you. It fights some types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a common virus – in fact, most of us will have it at some point in our lives.
Our body usually gets rid of HPV without any problems, a bit like a cold. Sometimes HPV stays in our body. If it does, over time it may develop into cancers or genital warts that affect men and women.
Can I have the HPV vaccine?
Your school will offer you the HPV vaccine between age 11 and 13.
If you miss having it in school, you can get it from your GP until you are 25 years old. This applies if you:
- are a girl and were in school year 8 (England and Wales). S1 (Scotland), or year 9 (Northern Ireland) in September 2008.
- are a boy and were in year 8 (England and Wales). S1 (Scotland), or year 9 (Northern Ireland) in September 2019.
You can talk with your parent or guardian to decide if you want the vaccine.
Having the HPV vaccine
Like most injections (jabs or jags), the HPV vaccine goes into your upper arm:
- If you are under 15, you have 2 injections, usually over 12 to 24 months
- If you are 15 or over, you have 3 injections, usually over 6 months.
If you are worried about the injection, you aren’t alone – lots of people get nervous about it. It might help to chat with your parent. guardian or school nurse before, so they can give you some support.
Is the HPV vaccine safe?
Who know that the HPV vaccine is safe because it has been studied and lots of people have had it. Any side effects are usually ones that happen after any injection, like having a sore arm for a bit.
If you, or your parent or guardian, want to know more about side effects, we have information at jostrust.org.uk/hpv-vaccine
After the HPV vaccine
If you are a girl and have had the HPV vaccine, you will still be invited for cervical screening (a smear test) from age 25.
The HPV vaccine doesn’t protect against all types of HPV that may cause cervical cancer, so cervical screening is still an important test. Cervical screening checks that your cervix os healthy and you don’t have HPV.
More information and support
We teamed up with Teenage Cancer Trust to develop lesson plans about HPV, the vaccine and more.
Your teacher, parent or guardian can go to jostrust.org.uk/teachers to find out more and download the free resources.
We have lots of information and support about HPV, the HPV vaccine and cervical health at jostrust.org.uk/information
Thanks and references
Thank you to everyone shared experiences to help us develop this information. All of our information is reviewed by experts for clinical accuracy – thanks to those who reviewed this. For references email info@jostrust.org.uk