What happens at an NHS cervical screening appointment
Cervical screening (a smear test) checks the health of your cervix. The cervix is the opening to your womb from your vagina.
Quick facts from NHS guidance:
- It's not a test for cancer, it's a test to help prevent cancer.
- All women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 should be invited by letter.
- 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 then checked for any changes in the cells of your cervix. These can then 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.
During cervical screening a small sample of cells is taken from your cervix for testing.
The test itself should take less than 5 minutes. The whole appointment should take about 10 minutes.
It's usually done by a female nurse or doctor.
Before starting, they should explain what will happen during the test and answer any questions you have.
How cervical screening is done
- You'll need to undress, behind a screen, from the waist down. You'll be given a sheet to put over you.
- The nurse will ask you to lie back on a bed, usually with your legs bent, feet together and knees apart. Sometimes you may need to change position during the test.
- They'll gently put a smooth, tube-shaped tool (a speculum) into your vagina. A small amount of lubricant may be used.
- The nurse will open the speculum so they can see your cervix.
- Using a soft brush, they'll take a small sample of cells from your cervix.
- The nurse will close and remove the speculum and leave you to get dressed.
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
You're still at risk of cervical cancer if:
- you have had the HPV vaccine – it does not protect you from all types of HPV, so you're still at risk of cervical cancer
- you have only had 1 sexual partner – you can get HPV the first time you're sexually active
- you have 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 have had any sexual contact
- you're a trans man with a cervix – read about if trans men should have cervical screening
- you have 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 are invited. But you can still have a test if you want one.
If you're not sure whether to have cervical screening, talk to your GP or nurse.
Things you can try to make the test easier
If you're worried about cervical screening, there are things you can try that might make the test easier for you:
Do
-
wear something you can leave on during the test, like a skirt or long jumper
-
bring someone with you for support
-
try breathing exercises to help you relax – ask the nurse about these
-
ask the nurse to use a smaller speculum
-
ask the nurse about lying in a different position – such as on your side with your knees pulled up to your chest
-
bring something to listen to or read during the test
Don’t
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do not feel pressured to keep going – you can ask to stop the test at any time
-
try not to be afraid or embarrassed to talk to the nurse – telling them how you feel will help them understand what kind of support you might need
Things to look out for after cervical screening
You may have some spotting or light bleeding after your cervical screening test.
This is very common and should go away after a few hours.
Non-urgent advice:See a GP if you have:
- heavy bleeding after cervical screening
- any bleeding after cervical screening that does not stop after a few hours
Cervical screening is one of the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer.
Cervical screening is not a test for cancer, it's a test to help prevent cancer.
How cervical screening helps 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 these types of HPV are found during screening (an HPV positive result), the sample of cells is then checked for abnormal changes. If abnormal cells are not treated, they may 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 is 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 HPV (called "high risk" types) 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 is very unlikely you will get cervical cancer, even if you have had abnormal cell changes in your cervix before.
