NHS Highland is supporting Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (22-28 January) to highlight the importance of cervical screening.
The cervical screening test (the smear) is routinely offered every five years to women and anyone with a cervix in Scotland between the ages of 25 and 64. It’s a quick test to check the cervix (neck of the womb) for the human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is a very common virus that 80% of people in Scotland have at some point in their lives. HPV does not generally cause symptoms, and you may not know that you have it, but it causes 99% of all cervical cancers.
Cervical screening:
- takes five minutes
- is the best way to find out if you are at risk of developing cervical cancer
- can help prevent cervical cancer before it starts
- can help find changes when you feel healthy and have no symptoms
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is an annual event organised by the charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. It aims to highlight the importance of cervical screening (the smear test) and encourage women and people with a cervix to take part regularly.
A number of women and people with a cervix don’t take up their invite for cervical screening. Jo’s Trust and NHS Highland want to change that, and you can help by speaking to friends and family, sharing your tips and experiences, and helping to break down some of the confusion and anxiety that exists around the test.
It's helpful to know that if you didn’t take part when last invited, you don’t have to wait until your next invitation letter, you can just call your GP practice to make an appointment to be screened.
What to look out for
There are usually no symptoms with changes in cervical cells and sometimes there are no symptoms with early-stage cervical cancer. But you should make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible if you have unusual discharge, or bleeding after sex, between periods or after the menopause.
There are many other conditions that can cause these symptoms that are not related to cancer. However if you experience them, you should make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible, even if you have recently had a normal cervical screening result.
Further information
- Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust
- information about cervical screening at NHS inform - also in different formats and languages including Easy Read, BSL and audio
- information about cervical screening for the transgender community at NHS inform
- cervical screening information at NHS Highland
- cervical screening information at NHS Highland (Easy Read format)