As part of Cervical Screening Awareness Week NELFT is urging women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64, invited by their GP, to go for a regular cervical screening.

Cervical screening checks the health of your cervix. The cervix is the opening to your womb from your vagina. It's not a test for cancer, it's a test to help prevent cancer.

During the screening, a small sample of cells are taken from the cervix and checked for certain types of human papilloumavirus (HPV) that can cause changes to your cervix.

 

You'll be sent an invitation letter in the post when it's time to book your cervical screening appointment.

 

Call your GP surgery to book an appointment with them. You might be able to book the appointment online.

It's OK to let the GP surgery know if you have any worries about going for cervical screening.

Things to ask when you book:

Do

• let them know if you'd like a woman to do the test – most nurses and doctors who take cervical screening samples are female
• let them know if you'd like someone else to be in the room with you (a chaperone) – this could be someone you know, another nurse or a trained member of staff
• ask for a longer appointment if you think you might need more time – some GPs can offer a double booking
• let them know if you're finding the test more difficult after going through the menopause – they can prescribe a vaginal oestrogen cream or pessary before the test
• ask for a smaller speculum (a smooth, tube-shaped tool that's put into your vagina so they can see your cervix)
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More information on how to book when you’re invited for a test, what happens when you arrive at your appointment and when to expect your results is available from the NHS here.