In 2025 we have been working on a project to encourage more patients to book appointments for their smear tests. As part of this project we have gathered the information below which you may wish to read before your smear test appointment. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us – our aim is to make you as comfortable as possible throughout the entire process.
What is Cervical Screening?
Cervical screening (also known as the smear test) is a procedure done at the surgery by one of the practice nurses. The cervix is the opening of your womb from the vagina. The smear test is a test which enables us to examine your cervix for any abnormalities but also send a sample of the cervical cells to the lab for further testing.
The procedure isn’t usually painful but can be uncomfortable for some women. We use a plastic device known as a speculum which helps us to see your cervix and can sometimes cause mild discomfort. We then use a small soft brush to collect cells. Once the sample is taken, the cells are placed in a pot and sent to the lab which tests for HPV. HPV is a very common, usually harmless virus. In most cases this virus will go away by itself but in some rare cases could develop into cervical cancer.
About 3,300 people in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year but cervical cancer is often curable if it’s diagnosed at an early stage. We know that not everyone takes up the offer of a smear test, but we want to change that!
Who is invited for Cervical Screening?
All women aged between 25-64 will be invited for a smear test although this may be delayed if you are currently pregnant. If the smear test result is negative you will have another smear test in 5 years. If your sample tests positive for HPV, you will be invited to attend for a repeat test in 12 months. In some cases, you will be told to attend a clinic called colposcopy if the HPV test positive and some abnormal cells are found when the sample is sent to the lab.
You can still be at risk of cervical cancer if:
- You have had the HPV vaccine as it cannot protect against all types of HPV
- You have only had one sexual partner
- 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 a trans man with a cervix
- You have had a partial hysterectomy that did not remove your cervix
I feel nervous or embarrassed about having my smear test – what can you do to help?
The nurse will try to make you feel as comfortable as possible during the appointment. There are also some things we can offer to make you more comfortable during your appointment:
- You can also bring some music to listen to or a friend or relative along with you if this helps.
- A longer appointment so that you have plenty of time to ask the nurse any questions
- A telephone call with the nurse before your appointment to discuss any questions or concerns
- If English is not your first language we can arrange for a telephone interpreter to be available
- If you have a physical impairment or disability that makes smear tests challenging, the nurse will discuss this with you and may be able to make some adjustments to make you more comfortable
What about self-testing kits?
Self-testing kits (where you can use a kit at home to test yourself for HPV) are not currently available on the NHS but we understand that this may be an option in the future for patients who are overdue for their smear test. The disadvantages of this are that we would not be able to visualise or examine the cervix to check for abnormalities. It is recommended that wherever possible the test is completed by a nurse or a doctor so that a sample can be taken direct from the cervix.