New leaflet - please click below
CERVICAL SCREENING LEAFLET July 2025.pdf
Why the NHS offers cervical screening
We offer cervical screening to check the health of your cervix
and help prevent cervical cancer. We look for high-risk human
papillomavirus (HPV). This is because it can cause abnormal changes
that may lead to cervical cancer.
Finding and treating any changes early can prevent most cases of
cervical cancer. Cervical cancer mostly affects women and people
who have a cervix under the age of 45, but abnormal changes can
happen at any age.
Cervical screening saves thousands of lives each year in the UK.
Regular cervical screening is important. You’re still at risk of cervical
cancer even if you:
• have had the HPV vaccine
• have only had 1 sexual partner
• haven’t had penetrative sex
• have had the same partner, or have not had sex, for a long time
• are a lesbian or bisexual
• are a trans man or a non-binary person with a cervix
• have had a subtotal (partial) hysterectomy that did not remove
your cervix.
If you’ve had a total hysterectomy, you do not have a womb or cervix.
This means you do not need cervical screening.