Cervical Screening (smear) Test

What is Cervical Screening (smear test)?

• 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.
• It’s not a test for cancer, it’s a test to help prevent cancer.
• During the screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix.
• The sample is checked for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause changes to the cells of your cervix. These are called “high risk” types of HPV.
• If these types of HPV are not found, you do not need any further tests.
• If these types of HPV are found, the sample is checked for any changes in the cells of your cervix. These can be treated before they get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.
• The nurse or doctor will tell you when you can expect your results letter.

How do I book my cervical screening (smear) appointment?

You’ll be sent an invitation letter in the post when it’s time to book your cervical screening appointment.

If your smear is overdue you will also be sent regular text message reminders or letters asking you to book your smear as soon as possible.

Patients can book their smear appointments at 3 locations;

• Highfield Hospital: Patients can also book their appointment at Highfield Hospital by ringing 0151 511 5704/5705. Highfield hospital offer out of hours appointments on evenings and weekends.
• Living Well Bus: NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY – See below for more details.
• The Beeches Medical Centre: Cervical screening appointments can be booked directly at The Beeches Medical Centre by ringing 0151 424 3101.

How is Cervical Screening done?

The video below shows someone having cervical screening. It shows an illustrated view of the inside of the body and explains what happens during the test.

Why is Cervical Screening so important?

Cervical screening is one of the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer.

How cervical screening helps prevent cancer

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).

These types of HPV can cause abnormal changes to the cells in your cervix and are called “high risk” types of HPV.

If high risk types of HPV are found during screening, the sample of cells is also checked for abnormal cell changes.

If abnormal cells are found, they can be treated so they do not get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.

What is HPV?

HPV is the name for a very common group of viruses.

Most people will get some type of HPV during their lives. It’s very common and nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about.

You can get HPV from any kind of skin-to-skin contact of the genital area, not just from penetrative sex.

This includes:

• vaginal, oral or anal sex
• any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area
• sharing sex toys

Some types of high risk types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. In most cases your body will get rid of HPV without it causing any problems. But sometimes HPV can stay in your body for a long time.

If high risk types of HPV stay in your body, they can cause changes to the cells in your cervix. These changes may become cervical cancer if not treated.

If you do not have a high risk type of HPV it’s very unlikely you’ll get cervical cancer, even if you’ve had abnormal cell changes in your cervix before.

Find out more about what HPV is

Important

Finding high risk HPV early means you can be monitored for abnormal cell changes.

Abnormal changes can be treated so they do not get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.

Who’s at risk of cervical cancer

If you have a cervix and have had any kind of sexual contact, with a man or a woman, you could get cervical cancer. This is because nearly all cervical cancers are caused by infection with high risk types of HPV.

You can get HPV through:

• vaginal, oral or anal sex
• any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area
• sharing sex toys

Find out more about the causes of cervical cancer

You’re still at risk of cervical cancer if:

• you’ve had the HPV vaccine – it does not protect you from all types of HPV, so you’re still at risk of cervical cancer
• you’ve only had 1 sexual partner – you can get HPV the first time you’re sexually active
• you’ve had the same partner, or not had sex, for a long time – you can have HPV for a long time without knowing it
• you’re a lesbian or bisexual – you’re at risk if you’ve had any sexual contact
• you’re a trans man with a cervix
• you’ve had a partial hysterectomy that did not remove all of your cervix

If you’ve never had any kind of sexual contact with a man or woman, you may decide not to go for cervical screening when you’re invited. But you can still have a test if you want to.

If you’re not sure whether to have cervical screening, talk to your GP or nurse.

Cervical screening is a choice

It’s your choice if you want to go for cervical screening. But cervical screening is one of the best ways to protect you from cervical cancer.

Risks of cervical screening

You may have some light bleeding or spotting after cervical screening. This should stop within a few hours.

If abnormal cells are found and you need treatment, there are some risks, such as:

• treating cells that may have gone back to normal on their own
• bleeding or an infection
• you may be more likely to have a baby early if you get pregnant in the future – but this is rare

For more information to help you decide, read the NHS cervical screening leaflet on the GOV.UK website.

How to opt out

If you do not want to be invited for screening, contact your GP and ask to be taken off their cervical screening list.

You can ask them to put you back on the list at any time if you change your mind.

When will I be invited for cervical screening?

Who should have cervical screening

All women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 should go for regular cervical screening. You’ll get a letter in the post inviting you to make an appointment.

How often you are invited depends on your age.

Age	When you’re invited
Under 25	Up to 6 months before you turn 25
25 to 49	Every 3 years
50 to 64	Every 5 years
65 or older	Only if a recent test was abnormal

You can book an appointment as soon as you get a letter.

If you missed your last cervical screening, you do not need to wait for a letter to book an appointment.

Find out how to book a cervical screening appointment

When cervical screening is not recommended

If you’re under 25

You will not be invited for cervical screening until you’re 25 because:

• cervical cancer is very rare in people under 25
• it might lead to having treatment you do not need – abnormal cell changes often go back to normal in younger women

If you’re 65 or older

You’ll usually stop being invited for screening once you turn 65. This is because it’s very unlikely that you’ll get cervical cancer.

You’ll only be invited again if a recent test was abnormal.

If you’re 65 or older and have never been for cervical screening, or have not had cervical screening since the age of 50, you can ask your GP for a test.

If you have had a total hysterectomy

You will not need to go for cervical screening if you’ve had a total hysterectomy to remove all of your womb and cervix.

You should not receive any more screening invitation letters.