Cervical screening
Cervical screening is an important test that can spot people who are at risk of developing cervical cancer.
What is cervical screening?
Cervical screening is a test that checks the health of your cervix to see if you are at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.
The cervix is the opening to to the uterus (womb) from the vagina. The cells in your cervix are changing all the time. Sometimes abnormal changes happen.
9 in 10 cervical cancers are caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a group of very common viruses that are passed from person to person during skin-to-skin contact, particularly sexual activity. Most HPV infections do not cause any symptoms and resolve on their own, however some increase the risk of cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer screening looks to see if you have any of the high-risk types of HPV that cause cervical cancer. If HPV is found, your same test sample will be checked to see if you have any abnormal (pre-cancerous) cells in your cervix.
Cervical cancer screening is not a test for cancer, it's a test to spot those who are at risk of developing cancer, by detecting abnormal changes early before they become cancer. This could save your life.
It's estimated that cervical screening can prevent 3 out of 4 cervical cancer cases.
Who should have cervical screening?
Anyone with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 65 should have regular cervical screening tests. CervicalCheck is the national cervical screening programme. It offers free testing to everyone in the target group.
- If you're between 25 and 29 years of age, you will usually have a cervical screening test every 3 years.
- If you're between 30 and 65 years of age, you will usually have a cervical screening test every 5 years.
It's safe to wait for 5 years between tests if you do not have a high-risk HPV infection.
If you have periods, the best time to have your test is halfway through your cycle - that's 10-14 days after the first day of your period.
No screening test is 100% effective. If you have any worries or symptoms, such as pain in your pelvis or abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, go to your GP without delay.
How is the test done?
You will undress from the waist down. You will lie down on a bed with your legs bent, feet together and knees spread apart.
The doctor or nurse will gently put an instrument called a speculum into your vagina, which is opened to show your cervix.
Next a sample of cells is gently removed from your cervix using a small, specialised brush.
This sample will be sent to a laboratory where it can be tested for HPV and, if necessary, abnormal changes.
The test can be uncomfortable but shouldn’t be painful. Always tell your doctor or nurse if you're worried or anxious about the test, so that they can try to make it more comfortable for you.
The test should only take a few minutes to complete.
Getting cervical screening test results
You'll usually get a letter with your results within 4 weeks of your screening test.
If you don't hear anything by this time, call your GP or clinic to see if they have any updates.
Most people's results are normal (no HPV found).
What your results mean
There are 14 high-risk types of HPV that are known to cause cervical cancer. Your cervical screening test looks for these.
If HPV is not found, you will have another test when it is due - in 3 or 5 years. Your risk of developing cervical cancer before your next screening test is very low.
If HPV is found, your sample of cells will be checked to see if there are any abnormal changes in your cervix.
If no abnormal changes in your cervix are found, you will have a repeat test after a year to check if the infection has cleared up. In most cases, people's immune systems manage to clear HPV from their bodies in 1 to 2 years.
If your repeat test after 12 months shows that the infection has gone, you will return to normal screening every 3 or 5 years.
If the repeat test shows you still have HPV, you will have a follow-up procedure called a colposcopy. This is a procedure that allows your doctor to examine your cervix and figure out if you need some kind of treatment.
Most people who have a colposcopy do not need treatment. However, they will be regularly screened to check that the HPV infection has cleared.
HPV that doesn't clear up can cause changes to the cells of the cervix over time, which can eventually become cancer. However this usually takes 15-20 years.
If HPV and abnormal cells in your cervix are found, you will be referred for a colposcopy. This is a procedure that allows your doctor to examine your cervix and figure out if you need treatment.
It is important to note that even if HPV and abnormal cells are found, this does not mean you have cervical cancer. The abnormal cells could be caused by something else, such as an infection in the cervix.
Your doctor will discuss the results of your colposcopy with you and explain the next steps.
Frequently asked questions about cervical screening
Cervical screening identifies those who are at higher risk of developing cancer and can find abnormal changes in the cervix that may lead to cancer. It’s life-saving because it can spot changes before cancer develops and before you have symptoms. If abnormal changes are found early, you can have treatment to try to stop the cancer developing.
This is why the Irish Cancer Society would always advise you to attend your screening appointments.
If you have any signs or symptoms of cervical cancer between your screening tests, you should immediately contact your doctor. Signs and symptoms to watch out for include:
- Unusual vaginal bleeding, such as between periods or after sex
- Unusual vaginal discharge. This may smell unpleasant
- Discomfort or pain during sex or in the pelvic area generally
You can have a free cervical screening test at your GP surgery or local family planning clinic if they are registered with CervicalCheck. More information about booking a test is available from the HSE here.
Yes. Cervical screening is a simple, harmless procedure carried out by trained professionals. The latest sensitive methods are used to identify the strains of HPV that can potentially cause cancer.
You can get a test privately, however there may be a charge. Public tests through CervicalCheck are free. These tests can be done in your local GP surgery or family planning clinic as long as they are registered with CervicalCheck.
This will depend on your insurance provider and policy. Check with your insurer beforehand to see if you are covered.
A new way of screening was introduced in Ireland in March 2020. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. The new screening test looks to see if you have any of the high-risk types of (HPV) that cause cervical cancer. If you do, your sample is then checked for abnormal cells.
The old smear test looked for abnormal cells first. But finding HPV first is a better way to screen for cervical cancer. Research shows that HPV testing:
- Prevents more cancers
- Means most people will need fewer screening tests
- Is better at finding pre-cancerous abnormalities and early-stage invasive cervical cancer
If you have high-risk HPV infection you can be monitored with repeat screening tests. If there are any changes to cells in your cervix you can have treatment to try to stop cancer developing.
Read more about HPV.
CervicalCheck
For more information on the national cervical screening programme, including to check when your next test is due, visit the CervicalCheck website, call 1800 45 45 55 or email info@cervicalcheck.ie
Talk to a Cancer Nurse
Support Line
Our Daffodil Centres
