This week is Cervical Screening Awareness Week. In this blog, one of our information development nurses Teri explains what cervical screening is, what it’s for and why it’s important.
Cervical screening can help reduce the number of women affected by cervical cancer. Scientists and experts estimate cervical screening saves around 4,500 lives each year in the UK.
Cervical cancer usually affects women over the age of 20. The highest rates occur in women aged between 30 and 34.
Having your regular cervical screening test every 3 years (or 5 depending on your age) can find any abnormal cell changes, before they develop into cancer. Cell changes might, over time, develop into cancer if they aren’t treated.
If you’re aged between 25 and 49 and registered with GP, you will get a letter in the post inviting you to have a cervical screening test every 3 years. If you’re aged between 50 and 64, you’ll be asked to have the test every 5 years.
If, like me, you’re put off going as you don’t like the thought of having it done, knowing what to expect might make it a bit easier.
What is cervical cancer screening?
Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It’s a test which looks for early changes to the cells in the neck of the womb (cervix). The cervix is part of a woman’s reproductive system, which includes the vagina, womb, cervix and ovaries. Cervical screening tests are also known as cervical smear tests.
The test is usually done by a nurse and normally only takes about five minutes. Your nurse needs to be able to see the cervix clearly to take a sample of cells. To help with this, they use an instrument called a speculum which they gently insert into your vagina. This may be uncomfortable, particularly if you are very tense. But taking some slow deep breaths can help you relax. The nurse uses a small soft brush to take some cells from the cervix, which are then examined under a microscope, in a laboratory. This should not be painful but you may feel some discomfort. Some women can feel embarrassed but your GP or practice nurse will do their best to put you at ease. If it’s something you feel anxious about, it may help to take a friend or relative with you for emotional support.
It’s important to tell the person doing the screening about any medicines you’re taking. This is because certain medicines, such as hormonal therapies, can cause changes to the cervix.
Where can you go for cervical screening?
You can book a cervical screening appointment at your GP surgery. But if you don’t want to go to your GP, you can go to a sexual health clinic or ‘well woman’ clinic.
Test results
The time it takes to get your screening results depends on where you live in the UK. You will usually get a letter within two weeks, but if you don’t hear anything within six weeks, you can ask the surgery or clinic to check your results.
Most women have a normal result, which means you won’t need to have another test for 3 to 5 years, depending on your age.
If your test shows an abnormal result, it may mean that some cell changes were found on the cervix. These changes are not usually cancer, and cell changes often go back to normal by themselves. But your GP may arrange for a repeat test or further investigations as, for some women, the changes could develop into cancer in the future if they aren’t treated.
Sometimes abnormal results are due to inflammation or infection. Another reason can be because there weren’t enough cells in the sample.
Symptoms to look out for
If you have regular screening, you should still let your GP know if you develop symptoms between your tests. This might be any abnormal changes, such as:
These symptoms may be caused by other things, but it’s important to get them checked out.
You can read more about on our website. Our cancer support specialists can also help with any questions you have. You can call them on 0808 808 00 00.
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