Cervical screening is a test to help prevent cervical cancer and is a great way you can take action to help reduce your cancer risk. It is estimated that the cervical screening programme in the UK saves over 5000 lives every year.
The screening test looks for the virus which causes nearly all cervical cancers, Human Papilloma virus or HPV. If HPV is found they will then look to see whether there are any changes to cells which need further checks. These cell changes are not cancer and can be monitored or treated to prevent them developing into cancer.
Our Cervical Screening Awareness Week survey (YouGov) found that although over 9 in 10 women thought they understood cervical screening well, there were big gaps in knowledge and some misunderstandings out there. Nearly 2 in 3 (58%) wrongly thought that a cervical screening test detected cancer in the early stages and only 1 in 3 (32%) women correctly said the test was to prevent cervical cancer from developing.
We know that not understanding cervical screening, not knowing what to expect and the fear of the unknown can stop some people booking in and getting tested. For some, especially from communities where cancer just isn’t talked about and is often still seen as a taboo, the fear of getting bad news or thinking you would rather not know if you had cancer is one of the reasons some don’t want to go. Getting the message out there that cervical screening helps stop cervical cancer from developing and what to expect when you go can help people feel more comfortable and confident to make the move and book in.
Cervical cancer is unique in the fact that it could potentially be eradicated, with help from the HPV vaccine, cervical screening and symptoms awareness. To make this happen, the UK has set a target for 80% of the women and people with a cervix eligible for screening to attend. We are lagging way behind the target, and attendance is falling year-on-year with currently an average of only just over 68% of those invited attending their screening test (NHS Digital, November 2023).
We asked our surveyed women if they attended their test when invited and if not, what held them back. Nearly 1 in 3 (29%) women who hadn’t gone when invited and didn’t plan to said they ‘didn’t want to have one’ and 27% said they had had ‘a bad experience with cervical screening in the past’. 16% said they ‘didn’t have time’ and 12% said the test ‘wasn’t a priority at that time’. Tinuke Awe, Co-founder of Five X More found out she had abnormal cervical cells that needed treatment when she went for her cervical screening test, which was long overdue, she said: “I’m grateful I finally had the screening and subsequently had a procedure to remove the abnormal cells, but I dread to think what could have happened if I had left it any longer. It’s vital for women to realise that regular attendance can save lives by detecting changes early and preventing cervical cancer from developing.”
Our CEO, Athena, knows all too well the power of information and why we need to increase awareness this Cervical Screening Awareness Week: “These survey findings clearly show that we have two jobs to do – communicating what the cervical screening test is for and overcoming the barriers to attendance. If we can do the first one effectively, it should have a real impact on the second. We want to empower people with information.”
Not only could increasing awareness encourage people to get screened but it could help people with cancer symptoms get checked and diagnosed faster, giving them a better chance. A quarter (26%) of the women we surveyed thought that cervical screening acted as a general gynaecological health check and another quarter (26%) thought it picked up all gynaecological cancers. Cervical screening only helps to prevent cervical cancer and isn’t a test for whether you it or any other gynae cancers or gynae health issues. So if you ever notice any unusual changes or symptoms with your gynae health, it’s important to call the GP and get checked, whether or not you have had a recent clear screening test.
The key signs and symptoms for cervical cancer to get checked by a GP are:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding, which includes bleeding after sex, between periods, after the menopause or periods that are much heavier or more painful than what is normal for you
- Pain during sex
- Changes to your discharge (including a change in smell)
To help people get screened we have more information on cervical screening, what to expect and some tips to make the appointment more manageable, as we know it isn’t always easy for everyone. Some things you can do are:
- Booking a double appointment
- Wearing comfortable clothes like a long skirt
- Listening to music or a podcast if you would find that relaxing
- Taking a companion
- Asking for the smallest sized speculum suitable
We have lots more tips and information, including specific tips for those who might find screening particularly difficult, which you can find here: eveappeal.org.uk/screening.
If you have any other questions on HPV, cervical screening and follow up, you can Ask Eve and speak to one of our nurses for free and confidential advice – by emailing nurse@eveappeal.org.uk or calling 0808 802 0019.