Cervical Screening Awareness Week: Why Making Time for Your Appointment Could Save Your Life

This week marks Cervical Screening Awareness Week, an opportunity to raise awareness of cervical screening and the important role it plays in helping to prevent cervical cancer.

Whether cervical screening is something that affects you personally, or someone you care about, talking about it matters. Raising awareness can help more people understand the test, respond to their invitation and access a potentially life-saving appointment.

Life gets busy. Appointments are easy to put off. But cervical screening really does save lives, so if you are eligible and have been invited, it is important not to miss yours.

What is cervical screening?

Cervical screening, sometimes called a smear test, is a routine health check that looks for high-risk HPV, which stands for human papillomavirus.

HPV is the virus responsible for almost all cervical cancers. Cervical screening is not a test for cancer itself, but it can identify changes that may develop into cancer if they are left untreated.

In England, women and anyone with a cervix are routinely invited for cervical screening between the ages of 25 and 64. Regular screening helps detect abnormalities early and can prevent cervical cancer from developing.

Screenings really do save lives. If you have received your invitation, do not delay. Book your appointment.

Your guide to cervical screening

Despite its importance, around one in three eligible people do not take up their invitation.

Around 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK each year, but screening is estimated to save approximately 4,500 lives annually.

When you are due your screening, you should receive an invitation through the NHS App, by text message, or by letter. This will ask you to make an appointment and explain how to book.

If you have received your invitation, book as soon as you can.

Screening and the HPV vaccine

Recent studies have highlighted the impact of cervical screening alongside the HPV vaccination in preventing cervical cancer.

New research shows that young women who received the HPV vaccine at ages 12 to 13 now have a close to zero risk of dying from cervical cancer before the age of 30.

Together, vaccination and regular screening provide the strongest protection.

What to do if you think you are due

If you think you are due for cervical screening but have not received an invitation, contact your GP practice to check your details.

This is especially important if you have moved house, changed contact details, or are unsure whether your NHS records are up to date.

Support for all communities

Some people face additional barriers to accessing healthcare and cervical screening. This can include people with learning disabilities, people from ethnic minority communities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and anyone who may find screening difficult, uncomfortable or worrying.

Support is available, and you can talk to your doctor or nurse about any adjustments you may need.

That could include asking for a longer appointment, requesting a particular clinician, talking through the process beforehand, or discussing anything that would make the appointment feel more manageable.

Learn more about cervical screening

Cervical Screening Awareness Week is a reminder that prevention matters.

If you have received your invitation, book your appointment. If someone you care about has been putting theirs off, a gentle reminder could make all the difference.