Cervical screening (smear test)
Cervical screening (also known as a smear test) 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.
Who the screening is for
All women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 should get a letter to invite them for a smear.
If you've not been invited and think you’re eligible, please contact the surgery.
How often you need a screening
How often you need screening depends on how old you are.
If you’re:
- under 25, you’ll be invited up to 6 months before you turn 25
- 25 to 64, you’ll be invited every 5 years. However, if any of your screenings show you have HPV, you may be invited for more frequent screenings to monitor any cell changes.
- 65 or older, you’ll only be invited if 1 of your last 3 tests was abnormal.
Getting an appointment
Eligible people will now receive screening invitations and reminders through the NHS App when they're due. For those people who do not use the NHS App, a text or a letter will be sent instead.
The invitation will tell you where you can go and how to request an appointment.
If you have not received a screening invitation
You can also request an appointment at the surgery if you have not received an invite by NHS App/letter, or if you lost the letter.
NHS App
We would encourage everyone to download the NHS App and enable notifications
Find out more
Read the guide to cervical screening on the NHS website.