Cervical Screening
Reasons for attending
In England and Northern Ireland all women between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible for a free cervical screening test every three or five years, depending on their age. In Wales, women aged between 20 and 64 are invited for a test every 3 years. Women living in Scotland between the ages of 20 and 60 are invited for a test every three years.
“In the light of evidence published in 20031 the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in England now offers screening at different intervals depending on age. This means that women are provided with a more targeted and effective screening programme.
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Age group (years)
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Frequency of screening
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25
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First invitation
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25 - 49
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3 yearly
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50 - 64
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5 yearly
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65+
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Only screen those who have not been screened since age 50 or have had recent abnormal tests”
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The NHS Cervical Screening Programme routinely invites women who are registered with a GP. Women who have not had a recent test may be offered one when they attend their GP or family planning clinic on another matter.
Many women said they have a regular test to enable any changes in their cervix to be detected early and treated before they became more serious. Reassurance that they are well and their cervix is healthy gives them peace of mind.
She has regular cervical screening tests so that any changes are detected early.
She has regular cervical screening tests so that any changes are detected early.
Well I did know about the procedures of smears beforehand so I knew what I was expecting and again it's part of the fact that instead of looking upon it in a way where it's embarrassing it's much more sensible to be looking upon it in a way that it's a job that, it's something that really should be done that has to be done to prevent any further problems that is possible and I just knew that I was doing the right thing. And I didn't want any further problems to occur so I know that doctors can't prevent these things but they can try and cure if it's, if whatever there is is caught early enough. So I must admit I'm very, I do make sure that I'm up to date with my smears.
She believes it would be much worse to find out you have cervical cancer and to know that you...
She believes it would be much worse to find out you have cervical cancer and to know that you...
Although I'm quite squeamish I have to say I really don't find that a bad procedure at all. It seems to me to be extremely quick, totally painless. You can feel somebody doing it but it can't even come into the category for me of discomfort. I am quite a squeamish person so why I don't mind that I don't know. I mean I wouldn't choose to go and have a smear if you offered me one now, it's not something you want to have done but it seems to me it's such a quick and painless procedure. Perhaps I am intolerant but I do find it quite difficult to understand why particularly women in relationships or married would find that a difficult thing to have done. I can understand perhaps why a young girl, or somebody that hasn't, who is still a virgin might have a difficulty with that but to me it's not even as bad as giving blood. I don't particularly like having needles stuck in me but I'll do that if I think that it's going to prevent some horrible condition from developing. So perhaps that's, I would spread the word and I do, I sort of say "well it's such a nothing thing have it done because to have cancer must be so awful and to know that you could've done something to avoid it".
Tina goes for screening because it's a two minute procedure to know that she is healthy.
Tina goes for screening because it's a two minute procedure to know that she is healthy.
Several women considered cervical screening to be a painless and short procedure with many important benefits. A few compared cervical screening to going to the dentist on a regular basis; both were considered to be important aspects of preventative health care. Others believed they had a responsibility to themselves to take up the opportunity of screening and to keep themselves healthy.
Women who went regularly for cervical screening believed it is too important for women to be put off by embarrassment or discomfort.
Regular cervical screening is important in preventing cervical cancer.
Regular cervical screening is important in preventing cervical cancer.
A lady who lives across the road she actually died of cancer which could've been prevented and I think that any woman that doesn't go and have a smear check every 3 years is insane. Because okay nobody likes being with their knickers off and nobody likes that but it is so important that it's worth 5 minutes of that horrible feeling of exposure just to know that you're clear.
Cervical screening is an important part of looking after yourself.
Cervical screening is an important part of looking after yourself.
I think it's essential that women look after themselves and we must do whatever we can. We, most of us wouldn't think twice about going to the dentist twice a year to look after our teeth and is that because it's a visible thing? We have our eyes tested because we need to see to get by and to drive a car but I think you know those hidden things need just as much care and certainly they are more life threatening if they go wrong. I just think it's our duty to look after ourselves, you only get one chance.
Others felt an obligation to attend for cervical screening. Some of these women were influenced by pressure or advice from family and friends. A few said they felt guilty if they did not attend for cervical screening.
She put off having cervical screening until she was forty because she was too scared to go for a test. But...
She put off having cervical screening until she was forty because she was too scared to go for a test. But...
I was 40 before I had my first smear, didn't want one, didn't want to go through it, that was something other women did and I sort of buried my head in the sand really I suppose. Then I had a bit of a problem, I can't remember what it was now and I told a friend of mine and she said "you've got to have a smear done", and I said "no I'm not going to have a smear". And in the end she made an appointment for me and I went to the GP for my first smear and it was fine. And again it didn't hurt you know what I thought it was going to.
Some women undergo regular cervical screening tests for reassurance that they are well and their cervix is healthy.
It's important to go for cervical screening so that if any changes are found, they can be caught...
It's important to go for cervical screening so that if any changes are found, they can be caught...
A few attended regularly for cervical screening because they believed they might be vulnerable to cervical changes because a relative had had cervical problems. There is no medical evidence that abnormal cervical cells or cervical cancer is hereditary. Some types of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) can cause abnormal cervical cells. HPV is a very common infection of the cervix. For more information see ‘HPV’ and NHS Cervical Screening Programme.
[1] P Sasieni, J Adams and J Cuzick, Benefits of cervical screening at different ages' evidence from the UK audit of screening histories, British Journal of Cancer, July 2003
[2] Perinatal mortality and other severe adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia' meta-analysis.
Arbyn M, Kyrgiou M, Simoens C, Raifu AO, Koliopoulos G, Martin-Hirsch P, Prendiville W, Paraskevaidis E. BMJ. 2008 Sep 18;337'a1284. doi' 10.1136/bmj.a1284. Review.
Last reviewed February 2013.
Last updated February 2013.
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