Cervical screening

What is cervical screening?

Cervical screening (or a smear test) is a test to check the health of the cervix (the neck of the womb).
It can prevent cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities in the cervix, which if left untreated, could lead to cancer. Cervical screening is not a test for cancer.

When should I have the test?

All women between the ages of 25 and 49 are entitled to a free cervical screening test every three years.
Women older than this are invited every five years.

Where can I have the test taken?

Cervical screening can be performed in our clinics at your GP surgery and some sexual health clinics.

If you want to find out more, click here for NHS information about cervical screening.