Two women die every day from cervical cancer in England. Yet it is one of the most preventable cancers and cervical screening can help stop it before it starts.

Today the Department of Health and Social Care, together with NHS England and NHS Improvement, launches the Help Us Help You – Cervical Screening Campaign. Cervical screening (a smear test) checks the health of your cervix, the opening to your womb from your vagina.

The campaign encourages those people who are eligible to attend their cervical screening appointments. Or you should book an appointment at your GP practice if you missed your last one.

“It is estimated that in England, screening prevents 70% of cervical cancer deaths and that if everyone attended screening regularly, 83% of cervical cancer deaths could be prevented,” says Mrs Jennifer Graystone, Clinical Director of Thames Valley Cancer Alliance, Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, and Head & Neck Cancer Surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals.

She continues: “Cervical screening lasts just a few minutes, and you only have to go once every three or five years depending on your age. It’s a few minutes that could save your life.”

Women and people with a cervix aged 25-64 are eligible for screening. Those registered as female with their GP practice are invited for routine screening every three years if they are aged 25-49, and every five years if they are aged 50-64. Those registered as male need to request an appointment from their GP or a local sexual health clinic.

HPV Virus
Screening helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for a virus called high-risk HPV which causes nearly all cervical cancers. This is the best way to find out who is at higher risk of developing the cervical cell changes that, over time, could potentially lead to cervical cancer.  Any cervical cell changes can be treated, preventing cervical cancer.

Don’t be alarmed if you have HPV as it does not mean you have cervical cancer – it’s a common virus that most people will get at some point in their lives.

For most, cervical screening tests are not painful. But if you are worried that you may find the test uncomfortable, remember you are in control and can ask to stop at any time.

For more information, visit www.nhs.uk/cervicalscreening.

ends Issued: 14/02/2022