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Cervical Screening

10 March 2026

Symptoms of cervical cancer

Main symptoms of cervical cancer

Symptoms of cervical cancer include:

  • vaginal bleeding that’s unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual
  • changes to your vaginal discharge
  • pain during sex
  • pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy

If you have another condition like fibroids or endometriosis, you may get symptoms like these regularly.

You might find you get used to them. But it’s important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or do not feel normal for you.

What is cervical screening?

  • All women aged 25 to 64 are invited for cervical screening every 5 years to check the health of their cervix. Cervical screening used to be called a smear test.
  • Everyone with a cervix should go for cervical screening.
  • If you’re a trans man or non-binary and have a cervix, you can speak to your GP, sexual health clinic or transgender health clinic about getting invitations routinely.
  • The cervix is the opening to your womb from your vagina.
  • It’s not a test for cancer, it’s a test to help prevent cancer.
  • During the screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix.
  • The sample is checked for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause changes to the cells of your cervix. These are called high risk types of HPV.
  • If these types of HPV are not found, you do not need any further tests.
  • If these types of HPV are found, the sample is checked for any changes in the cells of your cervix. These can be treated to help prevent cervical cancer.
  • The nurse or doctor will tell you when you can expect your results.

When you’ll be invited for cervical screening

Who cervical screening is for

Cervical screening is for women between the ages of 25 and 64. Everyone with a cervix should be offered screening.

You’ll be invited for screening every 5 years from when you’re 25 to 64 years old. You’ll get your first invitation a few months before you turn 25.

You may be invited more regularly if you have HPV.

If you’re 65 or older, you’ll only be invited if a recent test was abnormal.

You’ll get an invitation through the NHS App, by text or by letter asking you to make an appointment and telling you how to book.

You can book an appointment as soon as you get an invitation.

If you missed your last cervical screening, you do not need to wait for an invitation to book an appointment.

If you’re trans or non-binary

If you’re a trans man or are non-binary and have a cervix, how you’re invited depends on the sex you’re registered with at a GP surgery.

  • If you’re registered as female with a GP, you’ll automatically be invited for cervical screening.
  • If you’re registered as anything other than female, such as male or indeterminate, you may not be invited for cervical screening automatically – speak to your GP surgery, sexual health service, or transgender health clinic and ask to get invitations automatically.

If you’re a trans woman or are non-binary and do not have a cervix, you do not need to have cervical screening. But, if you’re registered with a GP as female, you may still be invited. Contact your GP surgery, sexual health service or transgender health clinic and ask to stop being invited.

Find out more about population screening for trans and non-binary people on GOV.UK

When cervical screening is not recommended

If you’re under 25

You will not be invited for cervical screening until you’re 25 because:

  • cervical cancer is very rare in people under 25
  • it might mean you have treatment you do not need – abnormal cell changes often go back to normal in younger women

If you’re 65 or older

You’ll usually stop being invited for screening once you turn 65. This is because it’s very unlikely that you’ll get cervical cancer if your recent tests did not find anything.

You’ll only be invited again if a recent test was abnormal.

If you’re 65 or older and have never been for cervical screening, or have not had cervical screening since the age of 50, you can ask your GP for a test.

If you’ve had a total hysterectomy

You will not need to go for cervical screening if you’ve had a total hysterectomy to remove all of your womb and cervix.

You should not receive any more screening invitations.

How to book cervical screening

Booking a cervical screening appointment

You’ll be sent an invitation through the NHS App, by text or by letter when it’s time to book your cervical screening appointment.

Your invitation will tell you where you can go for cervical screening and how to book.

Most cervical screening is done in a GP surgery by a female nurse or doctor.

You can usually call your GP surgery to book an appointment with them. You might be able to book the appointment online.