From 1st July, there is a change to how often some people are invited for cervical screening in England.
If you’re aged 25 to 49 and your last cervical screening did not detect HPV, you are at very low risk of developing cervical cancer. This means you’ll now be invited for your next test every 5 years instead of every 3 years — based on strong clinical evidence showing it’s safe.
If your sample shows HPV is present, or if you've had HPV in recent screenings, you’ll continue to be invited more often. This is to make sure the HPV clears on its own and to check for any early cell changes.
What You Need to Know:
- Always attend your cervical screening when you’re invited — even if your last one was a while ago.
- Screening is for people without symptoms.
- If you notice anything unusual for you — such as bleeding between periods or after sex, unusual discharge, or pain — don’t wait for your next screening. Contact your GP as soon as possible.
Cervical screening can help prevent cancer. It only takes a few minutes and could save your life.
