Cervical Screening
A test for high-risk HPV, and for cell changes where HPV is found, in people with a cervix.
Last revised
Key takeaways
- Age range: 25 to 64
- What is tested first: high-risk HPV
- Most useful single change: Attend when invited, and rebook rather than ignoring a missed invitation.
- Commonest mistake: Assuming vaccination removes the need for screening.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Why it matters
It prevents cancer rather than only detecting it, by finding changes that can be treated before they become cancerous.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Age range | 25 to 64 |
| What is tested first | high-risk HPV |
| Interval | usually every 3 to 5 years depending on age and result |
| HPV vaccination | offered in Year 8; screening is still needed afterwards |
| Attendance | lowest in the youngest eligible group |
What helps
- Attend when invited, and rebook rather than ignoring a missed invitation
- Ask for a longer appointment, a female sample-taker or a smaller speculum if needed
- Attend even if you have had the HPV vaccine
- Attend if you are not currently sexually active; HPV can persist for years
What to avoid
- Assuming vaccination removes the need for screening
- Waiting for symptoms; screening is for people without them
- Booking during a period, when sampling can be difficult
Where to go next
- Popular Beliefs About Cervical Screening, and What Is Actually Published
- Starting Out With Cervical Screening
- Breast Awareness: What Published Guidance Supports
- Contraception: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to get help
Report bleeding between periods, after sex, or after the menopause, persistent pelvic pain, or unusual vaginal discharge to a GP regardless of when you were last screened. A normal screening result does not exclude a problem you have symptoms of.
Where this comes from
- NHS — Cervical screening
- UK National Screening Committee — cervical screening
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.