Cervical screening

Cervical screening (previously called a smear test) is offered to help prevent cervical cancer. It is not a test for cancer, but a way of checking the health of your cervix and identifying changes that could develop into cancer if left untreated.

Regular cervical screening is one of the most effective ways of preventing cervical cancer.

Who is invited for cervical screening?

Women and people with a cervix are routinely invited for cervical screening by the NHS.

You will normally be invited:

every 3 years if you are aged 25 to 49
every 5 years if you are aged 50 to 64

If further monitoring is needed, you may be invited more frequently.

Booking your cervical screening appointment

We send reminders when your cervical screening is due.

If you have received an invitation, please do not ignore it. Most cervical screening results are normal, and screening can help identify changes before they become serious.

To arrange an appointment, please contact the practice online or call us on 01803 557458

What happens during a cervical screening appointment?

During your appointment, a small sample of cells is taken from your cervix and sent to a laboratory for testing.

The test usually takes only a few minutes and is carried out by a trained healthcare professional.

If you are feeling anxious about your appointment, please let us know. We will do our best to make you feel comfortable and answer any questions you may have.