In some cases, you do not need to have a cervical screening test or you may be advised to delay it. The following are the reasons why.
If you are under 25
You will not be invited for cervical screening until you are under 25 because:
- cervical cancer is very rare in people under 25
- it might lead to having treatment you do not need – abnormal cells often go back to normal in younger people
Talk to your GP if you are worried about your risk of developing cervical cancer. Talk to them if you are concerned about other areas of your sexual health (this link with take you to sexualwellbeing.ie).
If you have symptoms of cervical cancer
If you have symptoms of cervical cancer such as abnormal bleeding and pain in your pelvis, contact your GP straight away.
Do not wait for your next cervical screening appointment. Even if you have had a recent normal screening result, never ignore symptoms.
These symptoms can be caused by other conditions. It does not mean you have cervical cancer. But you should contact your GP to get checked.
If you are due to have a cervical screening test, your GP may advise you not to have the test. They will instead refer you for a colposcopy.
For more information on cervical cancer please go to thisisGO.ie (this link will take you to thisisGO.ie).
If you are over 65
You will stop being invited for screening when you are over the age of 65.
This is because it is very unlikely that you will get a cervical cancer at this age.
But you can ask your GP for a free screening test if you are over age 65 and have never been for cervical screening.
If you are pregnant
A screening test is not usually recommended until 3 months after the birth. This is because pregnancy can make it harder to get clear results.
If you had a miscarriage
If you have recently had a miscarriage and are due your screening test, delay booking it for 3 months as it will be easier to get clear results.
If you are a trans woman
If you are a trans woman aged 25 to 65, you may be invited to attend cervical screening.
But as you do not have a cervix, you do not need to be part of the screening programme.
You or your GP can contact the register with your correct details. This is so that CervicalCheck do not contact you about cervical screening tests again.
If you have never had sexual contact
Your risk of developing cervical cancer is low if you have never had sex or sexual contact.
Sexual contact includes:
- any skin-to-skin contact of your genital area by someone else
- touching someone else’s genital area and then touching your own
- vaginal, oral or anal sex
- sharing sex toys
If you have never had sexual contact you do not have to book a screening test when you get an invite from us.
But talk to your GP before you opt out of cervical screening. This is so you are fully aware of all the ways you can get human papillomavirus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer.
If you were born without a cervix
You do not need to have cervical screening if you are a woman born without a cervix.
If you have a treatment for cancer
You do not need to have cervical screening if you had radiotherapy for:
- cervical cancer
- bladder cancer
- rectal cancer
- other pelvic cancers
If you have had a full hysterectomy
If you have had a full hysterectomy and had your cervix removed, then you do not need to be part of the screening programme.
You or your GP can contact the register with your contact details so CervicalCheck do not contact you about cervical screening tests again.
Acknowledgement
This page contains information based upon content from reliable sources including the HSE’s website (this link will take you to HSE.ie).