Cervical Cancer Prevention Week
This week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, and if there’s one message I want every woman to hear loud and clear, it’s this: please don’t skip your cervical screening.
Cervical screening – what many people still call a smear test – is one of the most effective cancer prevention tools we have. Yet attendance rates are falling, often because women are busy, worried, or unsure whether it’s really necessary.
It is. And here’s why:
What Is Cervical Screening Actually Looking For?
In the UK, women are invited for cervical screening between the ages of 25 and 64, usually every five years.
Modern cervical screening doesn’t primarily look for cancer cells. Instead, it looks for HPV – Human Papillomavirus.
That’s important, because around 99.7% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV.
HPV is extremely common. Most women will be exposed to it at some point in their lives, often without ever knowing. In the majority of cases, the immune system clears the virus naturally within about two years.
The problem arises when HPV doesn’t clear.
Certain high-risk strains of HPV can persist on the cervix and, over time, cause changes to cervical cells. Left untreated, those changes can progress to cervical cancer. Cervical screening exists to catch this process early – long before cancer develops.
What Does “HPV Detected” Mean?
If your cervical screening result comes back as “HPV detected”, it doesn’t mean you have cancer.
What it means is that the laboratory will then examine the cervical cells under a microscope to check whether any cell changes have already occurred.
This two-step process is incredibly effective. Because the screening programme is so robust, cell changes are usually found at a very early, highly treatable stage. In most cases, treatment prevents cancer from ever developing.|
What About the HPV Vaccine?
The HPV vaccination programme was introduced in the UK in 2008. Initially, it was offered to girls aged 12–13, meaning those women are now around 30.
The vaccine has been hugely successful in reducing HPV infections and, as a result, cervical cancer rates.
However, many women over 30 were never offered the vaccine, which means they are still at risk of HPV infection and absolutely still need regular cervical screening.
Even if you have had the HPV vaccine, screening remains essential. The vaccine doesn’t cover every high-risk strain.
Worried About the Smear Test?
One of the most common reasons women avoid cervical screening is anxiety about the test itself.
If you’re worried about discomfort, please know this: you have options.
You can ask for a smaller speculum, which many women find far more comfortable. If you’re menopausal or perimenopausal and experiencing vaginal dryness, the test can feel more uncomfortable than it needs to be.
In these cases, a short course of vaginal oestrogen before your appointment can make a huge difference. It helps improve the health and elasticity of the vaginal tissues, making the test much more comfortable and easier to perform.
This is something I discuss with patients all the time – and it’s one of those simple interventions that can completely change the experience.
Cervical Screening Is Prevention, Not Just a Test
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers we see in medicine. Screening works. It saves lives. But only if women attend.
If you’ve put off your smear test, this week is your reminder to book it. If you’ve had a difficult experience in the past, please don’t suffer in silence – talk to us. Adjustments can almost always be made.
And if you’ve never really understood why cervical screening matters, I hope this explains just how powerful that one appointment can be.
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week isn’t about fear. It’s about empowerment, early detection, and giving yourself the best possible protection for the future.
If you’re overdue, make the call. Your future self will thank you.
BOOK A GP APPOINTMENT FOR YOUR CERVICAL SCREENING TODAY
Dr Alice Scott
