Cervical screening is a test that helps keep people healthy.
It helps doctors find problems early, before someone gets sick.
Getting checked regularly can save lives.
Screening can find:
- A virus called HPV before it causes problems
- Changes in the body before you feel unwell
- Problems when they are easier to fix
What is HPV?
HPV is a very common virus.
Most people will get it at some point in their lives.
Usually:
- The body’s immune system fights HPV
- It goes away on its own
- It does not cause harm
HPV and cervical cancer
Some types of HPV can cause changes in the cervix (a part of the body see picture below for details).
If these changes are not found early, they can sometimes lead to cervical cancer many years later.
That is why screening is important:
- It checks for high-risk types of HPV
- It helps stop cancer before it starts
Almost all cervical cancers are caused by certain types of HPV, but most people with HPV never get cancer.
HPV can be “sleeping”
HPV often has no symptoms, so people may not know they have it.
Sometimes the virus can stay “sleeping” in the body for a long time.
- Sleeping HPV does not cause problems
- If it becomes active, a screening test can find it
- Problems usually only happen if HPV stays for many years
That is why most people do not need screening yearly.
Important things to know about cervical screening
- Engaging with the national screening programme CervicalCheck is really important and can could save your life.
- Having HPV is very common
- It does not mean someone did anything wrong
- It does not mean a partner has been unfaithful