Cervical Screening is a test to check the health of the cervix, which is the lower part of the womb. For most women these tests find that everything is normal. However for about 1 in 20 women the test will show changes in the cells. Most of these changes will not lead to cancer.
Cervical cancer can often be prevented. The signs that it may develop can be spotted early on, so it can be stopped before it even gets started. Not going for cervical screening is one of the biggest risk factors for developing cervical cancer.
Cancer Research UK estimates that approximately 4,500 lives in England are saved each year by cervical screening.
All women aged 25 – 64 are invited for cervical screening. Women aged 25 – 49 are invited for screening every 3 years, and women aged 50 – 64 are invited every 5 years.