What is cervical screening?
Cervical screening looks for a virus in the cervix.
For a very small number of women the virus can be serious and cause cervical cancer.
Why should I have the test?
This is a cancer that starts in the cervix. It is a very serious illness that you can die from.
Having the test can stop you getting cancer.
Having the smear test saves thousands of lives every year.
When should I have the test?
If you are aged 25 to 49, the NHS will offer you the test every 3 years.
If you are aged 50 to 64, the NHS will offer you the test every 5 years.
If you missed your last screening test, please contact your GP practice to book an appointment now.
What happens during the test?
Please click here to read an information leaflet on how the test is performed.
When do I get my results?
You will get the result of your smear test in a letter or someone will telephone you.
- 9 out of every 10 women have a normal result. This means your cervix is probably healthy.
- 1 out of 10 women might need to have more tests. This means you may have unhealthy cells or the virus.
If you need to have more tests, your result letter will tell you what to do.
Further information
You can find further information about cervical screening on the NHS website here.
