Cervical Screening
You can choose whether to go for cervical screening. Some people are worried about having the test. Finding out what will happen at your appointment can help. You can also consider where you want to have your test. And if you need to think about anything beforehand.
During the screening test, a nurse or doctor uses a small soft brush to take a sample of cells from your . This test looks for a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). You might also hear this test called a smear test. This was the test used before HPV testing.
Read more about the cervical screening programme and who can take part
You can have cervical screening for free at:
your GP practice
some sexual health clinics
specialist clinics for cervical screening
You can ask to talk to someone before you book or go for screening. This might be with a health professional such as a doctor or nurse. It might be over the phone, a video call or in person. Ask if you can take someone with you if you think this might help.
You will receive a letter inviting you to your screening appointment if you are eligible and registered with a GP. It might help to book it as soon as you are invited.
You don’t need to wait for a letter if you missed your last cervical screening.
The best time to book an appointment is when:
you are not having a period - you can book anytime if you don't have periods
you have finished treatment for unusual vaginal discharge or a pelvic infection
Some women who use a hormonal implant or can have unpredictable bleeding and so this is difficult to plan. It's sometimes possible to do the test if the bleeding is not too heavy. The staff at the clinic can talk you through this if this applies to you. They will understand if you need to cancel nearer the time. It might help to make a new appointment at the same time, so you don’t forget.
Some women may find the screening test uncomfortable or that it hurts. This is more likely if you are going through the menopause, or you are . Lower levels of oestrogen in the body mean that the vaginal tissue could be dry, thinner and more prone to inflammation.
Contact your GP or screening clinic if you think this might be a problem for you. They can prescribe you oestrogen cream or pessaries that you put into your vagina at night. You usually use these for about 2 weeks. You must then stop using these 2 days before your screening appointment. The vaginal oestrogen should make the test more comfortable.
Do not use any vaginal creams, medicines or lubricants for 2 days before your test. These products could affect the test results.
Other conditions could make it more difficult to have the test. For example:
a skin condition called lichen sclerosis
involuntary tightening of the vagina (vaginismus)
Speak to someone at your GP practice or screening clinic and let them know. They can support you. Try not to let it put you off booking a screening test.
It might help to wear something comfortable that you can adjust or remove easily. The nurse will ask you to go behind the screen or curtain and undress from the waist down. With a loose fitting skirt or dress, you can just lift these up. Or you could wear leggings or trousers that are easy to slip off. They will then ask you to lie on the couch on your back. The staff will provide a sheet or some disposable paper to cover your hip area when you lie on the couch.
Specialist clinics are available for people who may find it difficult to have cervical screening or would like a clinic more suited to their needs.
Specialist clinics for the LGBTQAI+ community
The OUTpatients website provides information about clinics that offer cervical screening as part of their sexual health services.
Specialist screening clinics for those who have experienced sexual violence
My Body Back Project run cervical screening clinics in London and Glasgow. All female staff are trained to work with women who have experienced sexual violence.
Go to My Body Back Project website
A female nurse (or doctor) usually does the screening test. You can check before your appointment if it’s important to you to have a female or male do the test.
The nurse should ask if you would like to have someone else (a chaperone) in the room while you have the test. It’s normal practice to offer this for intimate examinations or tests. The chaperone is another staff member from the clinic. It’s up to you whether you decide to have one or not. Ask for a chaperone if this is what you want and it hasn’t been offered. You can also take a friend or relative into the room with you if you want.
Let the nurse know if you feel nervous about having the test. They can help to reassure you. The test itself will take about 5 minutes.
They will explain what clothing you need to remove and what position they would like you to be in. You usually lie on the couch with your knees drawn up and spread apart. If this is difficult for you, you can lie on your side with your knees drawn up. They may ask you to change your position so they can do the test. For example, they may ask you to tilt your pelvis up more and put your hands under your bottom.
The nurse uses an instrument called a speculum. They should apply a water-based lubricant onto the sides of the speculum. This can make the test more comfortable. You can ask the nurse to use lubricant if you’re not sure whether this will happen. Applying the right amount of lubricant to the sides of the speculum should not affect the results.
The nurse then gently slides the speculum into your vagina so that they can see the cervix clearly. They use a soft brush to take some samples of cells from the surface of your cervix. They put the sample into a pot of liquid to send to the laboratory. They take out the speculum and the test is over. You can then get dressed and go home.
This short video shows you what happens at your cervical screening appointment. This is just under 2 minutes long.
Having the test can feel different for different people. You can usually feel the speculum going into your vagina. You can’t usually feel the brush taking the samples of cells. Most people find it a little uncomfortable or that it doesn’t hurt at all. But some do find that it hurts. You can stop the test at any point if you want to. Tell the nurse if you are finding it difficult or painful. They can support you and look at ways to make you more comfortable.
The nurse may suggest that they try a smaller speculum. This could be more comfortable. It might help if you insert the speculum yourself. Ask about a smaller speculum and inserting yourself, if you think it could help.
When the test is over, you can get on with the rest of your day as normal.
You may have some light vaginal bleeding or spotting of blood for a few hours after the test. Otherwise, the test is very safe and you shouldn’t have any other side effects.
Contact your doctor if you have any of the following:
bleeding that continues
heavy bleeding
an abnormal vaginal discharge
There is more detailed information for some people with particular needs.
The GOV.UK website has an easy guide for women with learning disabilities.
Macmillan has easy read online information and a booklet about cervical screening.
The Eve Appeal has an easy read guide on cervical screening
The Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance has worked with people with learning disabilities and autism to produce accessible videos about cervical screening.
Go to the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance's videos about cervical screening
NHS inform have four BSL videos about cervical screening in Scotland. These are about 14 minutes, 8 minutes, 15 minutes and 5 minutes long.
Watch the NHS inform website to view these videos
Public Health Wales has a BSL video about screening in Wales (including the cervical cancer screening programme). This is 7 minutes long.
Visit the Public Health Wales website
Cancer Research UK has information about screening for trans or non-binary people, including cervical screening.
I’m trans or non-binary, does this affect my cancer screening?
The OUTpatients website has screening information for people who are transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse.
The Eve Appeal has a guide about cervical screening for survivors of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse.
Your nurse or doctor will tell you when you are likely to get the results. It usually takes around 2 to 6 weeks. Most women have a normal result. They have their next screening test in 3 to 5 years, depending on their age and where they live.
Last reviewed: 27 Nov 2024
Next review due: 24 Nov 2027
Cervical screening uses HPV primary screening. The cervical cells are first of all tested for the HPV virus. If high risk HPV is found, the laboratory will test the sample for cell changes.
For some types of cancer screening, your sex assigned at birth, hormones or surgeries you may have had, will be relevant.
You usually get your cervical screening results in the post. It can take from 2 to 6 weeks. Most people have a normal screening test result.
An abnormal cervical screening test result means that you have changes in the cells covering the neck of your womb (cervix). Abnormal cervical cells are not the same as cervical cancer.
There are leaflets, books and short videos about cancer for people with learning disabilities. They cover issues from going to the doctors and checking for cancers to dealing with bereavement.
Cervical screening is a way of preventing cervical cancer. It is not a test for cancer. It tests for a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV).
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