Prevention is the best medicine – what to expect from your smear test
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Cervical cancer screenings save at least 2,000 lives every year in the UK. Here’s what you should expect from your smear test and why these screenings are important.
One in 142 women in the UK will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in their lifetime. A cervical cancer screening, better known as a smear test, can detect the development of abnormal cells in the cervix and prevent cervical cancer.
Who is eligible?
All women and people with a cervix are eligible for a cervical cancer screening. This includes Trans men and non-binary people who are assigned female at birth and registered with their GP as female.
Screenings will occur at regular intervals between the ages of 25 and 64. If you’re 25 to 49, invites to screenings will be every three years. For those aged 50 to 64, this will be every five years.
What to expect
A smear test should take around five minutes, and the whole appointment should take at most ten minutes. A female GP or nurse will carry out the test, but if you have a...
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