To help you decide whether or not to come for cervical screening, the main benefits and difficulties of cervical screening are explained below.

• Cervical screening reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer.
• Due to cervical screening, cervical cancer is now an uncommon disease in this country.
• Cervical cancer rates have halved since the 1980s, largely due to most women regularly having cervical screening.
• Cervical screening by the NHS saves over 1000 lives each year.
• In one in 10 tests, the cells cannot be seen properly under the microscope and the test must be taken again.
• The test can show minor abnormalities in cervical cells which would have cleared up on their own and women would never have known about them if they had not been for screening. It is not yet clear which minor abnormalities would develop into cancer and which would not. Many women worry when a minor abnormality is found.
• Cervical screening does not pick up every abnormality of the cervix.
• Regular cervical screening can prevent around 75% of cervical cancers developing, but it does not prevent every case.
• Some women find having the test an unpleasant experience.

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about smear tests:

• What is cervical screening?
• Why do I need cervical screening?
• Should all women have the test?
• What is the NHS Cervical Screening Programme?
• Who will carry out my test?
• Will I have to undress?
• What happens during the test?
• Does the test hurt?
• Is there anything I should do before the test?
• Can I have sex before the test?
• When do I get my results?
• How reliable is cervical screening?
• What does it mean if I am called back?
• Can anything be done about abnormal changes?
• Can cervical screening prevent cancer?
• What happens to my sample once it has been looked at?

All of the above questions are answered in the NHS leaflet Cervical Screening – The Facts.

Click here to open a copy of this leaflet (pdf file)

I have had a hysterectomy - Do I still need the test?

Some women who have had a hysterectomy are still at risk of developing abnormal cells and should continue to have regular smear tests. If you womb was removed but you still have a cervix, you should continue to go for regular smears.

If your womb and cervix were removed to prevent or treat cancer, you may still be asked to have a regular vaginal smear (also called a vault smear). This is similar to a cervical smear but the cell samples are taken from high in your vagina. If your womb and cervix were removed for a benign (non-cancerous) condition, such as fibroids or heavy bleeding, you probably do not need to have any more smear tests but may wish to check with the Surgery to be certain.