Cervical screening

• Cervical screening (a smear test) checks the health of your cervix. 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.
• 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.
• You'll get your results by letter, usually in about 2 weeks. It will explain what happens next.

How cervical screening is done

This video describes the process of cervical screening and how it's done.