Let's talk cervical cancer screening

You cannot have cervical screening during your period, so make sure you book an appointment before or after it’s due.⁷ It can happen at any other time in your cycle.

• In most cases, it’s recommended that you do not have cervical screening while you are, or could be, pregnant.¹ This is because pregnancy makes it harder to interpret your test results.¹
• If you’re invited for cervical screening while pregnant…tell your GP or nurse you are pregnant.¹ You should wait three months until after your baby is born to have the examination, or if you need follow-up after an abnormal cervical screening result or treatment, you may need to attend cervical screening while pregnant.¹ Cervical screening will not affect your pregnancy.¹
• If you’re planning to become pregnant…call your GP surgery to find out if you’re up-to-date with your cervical screening and arrange any tests or treatment around the pregnancy.¹

If you have had a total hysterectomy, an operation that removes the womb and cervix, you will not be invited for cervical screening as there is no cervix to take the sample of cells from.¹ If you’ve had a partial (or “sub-total”)  hysterectomy, whereby the cervix is not removed, you should still be invited for cervical screening, and you should still attend.⁸

^{1. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. About cervical screening. Available at: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening/what-is-cervical-screening Last accessed: October 2022}

^{2. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. Language to use. Available at: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/professionals/cervical-screening/language#:~:text=Words%20or%20phrases%20to%20avoid,-AVOID%20%E2%80%93%20%22cytology%22&text=Cervical%20screening%20is%20the%20term,confusing%20and%20new%20to%20patients Last accessed: October 2022}

^{3. NHS. What is cervical screening? Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/ Last accessed: October 2022}

^{4. NHS. Cervical screening: why it’s important. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/why-its-important/ Last accessed: October 2022}

^{5. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. About HPV. Available at: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/hpv/what-is-hpv Last accessed: October 2022}

^{6. Menopause Support UK, Guide to preparing for your smear test, available at https://menopausesupport.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Tips-when-going-for-your-smear-test-Menopause-Support9729.pdf, last accessed October 2022}

^{7. NHS. Cervical screening: how to book. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/how-to-book/ Last accessed: October 2022}

^{8. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. Blog. Available at: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/about-us/news-and-blog/blog/behind-headlines-cervical-screening-incident-scotland-and-what-it-means Last accessed: October 2022}

^{1. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. What happens at cervical screening? Available at: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening/what-happens-during-cervical-screening Last accessed: October 2022}

You do not need to wait for another NHS letter. Simply re-book via your GP surgery or local sexual health clinic.⁴

If you think you’re due your next cervical screening, do not delay.² Contact your GP surgery or local sexual health clinic and ask about booking an appointment.²

Should you change your mind, you can always request your GP to add you back at any time if you previously decided not to have cervical screening.⁵

To book cervical screening, you can register with a GP...or you can go to a walk-in centre or sexual health clinic that offers cervical screening.  

Contact your GP surgery right away.^4,6 The most common symptoms of cervical cancer include vaginal bleeding that's unusual for you (such as after sex, between your regular periods, or after the menopause); changes to your vaginal discharge; pain or discomfort during sex; and unexplained pain in your lower back or pelvis.⁶

Some of you might have had the HPV vaccine. Even if you have, it does not protect you from all types of HPV, so you could still be at risk of cervical cancer and you should book your cervical screening once invited.⁷

^{1. Jo’s Trust. About cervical screening. Available at: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening/what-is-cervical-screening Last accessed: October 2022} 

^{2. NHS. Cervical screening: how to book. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/how-to-book/ Last accessed: October 2022} 

^{3. Jo’s Trust. What happens at cervical screening? Available at: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening/what-happens-during-cervical-screening Last accessed: October 2022} 

^{4. NHS. Cervical screening: why it’s important. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/why-its-important/ Last accessed: October 2022} 

^{5. Jo’s Trust. Cervical cancer symptoms. Available at: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-cancer/about-cervical-cancer/symptoms Last accessed: October 2022} 

^{6. NHS. Cervical screening: when you’ll be invited. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/when-youll-be-invited/ Last accessed: October 2022} 

^{7. Jo’s Trust. Cervical screening results. Available at: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening/results Last accessed: October 2022} 

^{8. GOV.UK. Ten years on since the start of the HPV vaccine programme – what impact is it having? Available at: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2018/06/18/ten-years-on-since-the-start-of-the-hpv-vaccine-programme-what-impact-is-it-having/ Last accessed: October 2022}