20/06/2025
Cervical Screening Awareness Week
Why have cervical screening?
Abnormal cell changes in the cervix are common, and often improve naturally. But sometimes these changes need treatment because there is a risk they may develop into cancer.
Abnormal changes cause no symptoms. You will not know if you have them unless you have cervical screening. Screening finds abnormal cell changes, including the ones that are most likely to become cancer. These cells can then be treated. This is an effective way of preventing cervical cancer.
Who can have cervical screening?
Cervical screening is for anyone who has a cervix. It is important to have, even if you have had the HPV vaccination. The vaccination protects against the most common types of high-risk HPV that cause cervical cancers. But it does not protect against all types.
It is safe to have cervical screening if you are pregnant, but you can usually delay it if you prefer. A screening test (the cervical smear test) during pregnancy may cause a small amount of bleeding afterwards. This is normal and does not affect your baby.
Women
The NHS will contact you when it is time for your cervical screening if you are:
25 to 64 years old
registered as female with a GP.
You do not need screening if you have had surgery to remove your cervix. If you have had surgery to the cervix, vagina or womb but you are not sure what your operation involved, your GP can find out from your medical records.
If you are not sure about having cervical screening for any reason, talk to your GP, practice nurse or sexual health service.
Trans and non-binary people
If you are a trans man or non-binary person and have a cervix, you should have screening too. But, you may not be sent an invitation if you are registered as male with your GP. Tell your GP if you want to have cervical screening, so they can arrange regular tests for you.
You do not need cervical screening if you are a trans woman or were assigned male at birth. The NHS has more information about other types of screening for trans women.
