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    1. Home
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    Screening can help prevent cervical cancer

    Date published: 20 January 2025

    Early detection and treatment can help prevent cervical cancer. The best way of significantly reducing your risk of developing the disease is to go for screening when invited. It's important to go - it could save your life.

    Test

    A screening test is not a test for diagnosing cervical cancer. It is a test to check the health of the cervix.

    Regular screening tests are the best way of detecting early changes in the cells of the cervix that don’t cause any symptoms and could go on to develop into cervical cancer if left untreated.

    The test only takes a few minutes and is usually carried out by a nurse.

    When you go to your appointment, your nurse or doctor should be able to advise when you can expect your result.

    • Cervical screening

    If you're concerned that you may have missed an invitation, or if you have any symptoms, you should talk to your GP.

    Test process video

    Many will feel nervous about going for their smear test, especially if it is their first time.

    They may be worried about the actual process of having the test, as well as the results. These worries can put some off attending at all.

    The video at the following link explains what happens when you go for a test:

    • Cervical cancer awareness

    Symptoms 

    The symptoms of cervical cancer are not always obvious.

    No matter what age you are, you should seek advice from your GP even if you go regularly for screening if you're concerned about symptoms such as:

    • vaginal bleeding after sex, between periods or after the menopause
    • vaginal discharge that is not normal for you
    • persistent back or tummy pains
    • pain during sex

    You can find out more about cervical cancer and its symptoms at this link:

    • Cervical cancer

    HPV vaccine

    As well as cervical screening, there is also a vaccine available that helps protect against cervical cancer.

    All girls and boys in year nine are offered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in school. 

    You can find out more on the HPV vaccine for adolescents page.

    If you have been eligible for the vaccine but have not received it in school, you can still get it free of charge until the age of 25. You can find out if you're eligible by contacting your GP.

    Anyone who has had the vaccine is still advised to go for cervical screening when they are invited to do so.

    More useful links

    • Cancer
    • Older women’s health
    • Immunisation and vaccinations
    • Northern Ireland Cancer Screening Programmes
    • Northern Ireland Cancer Network
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