Cervical smear testing (screening)

Cervical screening helps prevent cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer in a woman's cervix (the neck of the womb). All women between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible for a free cervical screening test every three to five years.

Women aged 25-49 are screened every 3 years and women aged 50-64 every 5 years. Women should receive their first invitation for routine screening at 25. The NHS cervical screening service will contact you directly by post to invite you to make an appointment with us. If you do not attend you will receive a second invite from the screening service. If you do not attend after these two invites we will send a third and final invite by email. If you have any worries or questions about cervical smears please contact the practice and ask to speak to one of our nurses.

The practice offers regular appointments for cervical smears, please speak to the Office (tel: 0117 330 2720 option 2) to make an appointment.

If a woman has never been sexually active, then her chance of developing cervical cancer is very low indeed. In these circumstances, a woman might choose to decline the invitation for cervical screening on this occasion. If a woman is not currently sexually active but has had male partners in the past, then we would recommend continued screening. Lesbian and bi-sexual women should also have regular cervical screening. If you a trans male and still have a uterus (womb) , then you should also attend for screening.

• For more information on Cervical screening
• Information on cervical screening in other languages
• Your Guide to cervical screening (smear test) - Video available in various languages

Human Papilloma Virus vaccine (HPV)

This vaccine reduces your risk of cervical cancer if you are a woman and also reduces the risk of other oral and genital cancers in both women and men. if you've never had it, and are under 25 years, read more by visiting this page 

You can book a catch-up HPV vaccination at Student Health from November 2022. We give the Gardasil 9 vaccine.