Not only can a cervical screening give you peace of mind – it can also potentially save your life.
As Thursday 19 June 2025 marks the start of Cervical Screening Awareness Week, we’re reminding patients to make sure they respond to being called for their next cervical screening appointment.
Formerly called a smear test, cervical screening is a test to check the health of a cervix, and is offered to all women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 on a regular basis.
The screening can help to detect abnormal cells in the cervix before they can develop into cervical cancer, which – between 2017 and 2019 – killed more than two women daily in the UK according to Cancer Research UK.
How does a cervical screening work?
The procedure is usually done by a female nurse or doctor, and involves taking a small sample of cells from your cervix, the opening to your womb from your vagina, using a soft brush. The clinician will use a tube-shaped tool called a speculum to open your vagina in order to take the sample.
The sample is sent to a laboratory to be 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, and affected cells could develop into cervical cancer if not treated.
HPV is extremely common and has no symptoms, so you may not even know if you have it.
It’s important to remember: a cervical screening is designed to prevent cancer, not to detect it. Getting your screening done is one of the best ways to prevent cervical cancer – according to a 2015 study, 99.8% of cervical cancer cases are preventable.
When we call you for your cervical screening
Between January and May 2025, only 1 in 3 Royal Primary Care patients have responded to being called to book their screening appointment. It’s vitally important that women attend their cervical screenings when due, even if just for peace of mind.
When you are due a screening appointment, you’ll get an invitation through the NHS App, by text or by letter asking you to make an appointment.
Worried or nervous about what will happen at your screening appointment? Your clinician will be able to talk you through the process. Remember that you are in charge of the procedure, and you can stop at any time if you are too uncomfortable.
For all you need to know about your cervical screening, what to expect, how the procedure is done and what happens after, visit the NHS website’s dedicated page on cervical screening.