If you’re due your cervical screening, or have received your cervical screening letter reminder, call us on 01904721111 to book an appointment. We offer cervical screening appointments across York and North Yorkshire.

If you have the below, please bring them to your appointment:
- Your NHS Number. This can be found on your NHS app, or on your national screening programme letter.
- Your invite letter from the national screening programme.
- Details of the GP you are registered with (if you are not registered with a GP, we can still do your screening).

All people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 should go for regular cervical screening. You'll get a letter in the post inviting you to make an appointment.

Currently, only people who are registered as female with their GP surgery or clinic are automatically invited for cervical screening. If you are registered as male, aged between 25 and 64, and have a cervix, you can ask your GP surgery to send you invites directly.

You will not be invited for cervical screening until you're 25 because cervical cancer is very rare in people under 25 and it might lead to having treatment you do not need as abnormal cell changes often go back to normal in younger women.
You will not be invited for cervical screening if you're 65 or older because it's very unlikely that you'll get cervical cancer. You'll only be invited again if a recent test was abnormal. However, if you're 65 or older and have never been for cervical screening, or have not had cervical screening since the age of 50, you can ask your GP for a test.

We won’t be able to complete your screening if you:
- Are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 weeks (Vaginally or c-section).
- Have had a miscarriage or abortion in the last 12 weeks.
- Currently have any menstrual bleeding/abnormal discharge.
- Have used any vaginal lubricants or creams in the last 2 days- this can affect your results.
- Have used any vaginal medications e.g. thrush pessary in the last 7 days- this can affect your results.
- Have had any procedure to the cervix in the last 12 weeks e.g. coil fit.
- If you were asked to have a repeat test and it’s less than 12 weeks since your last inadequate or rejected sample.
- If you've had a total hysterectomy to remove all your womb and cervix.
- Haven’t had a letter requesting you attend for screening.

 1. The clinician will ask you to lie back on a bed, usually with your legs bent, feet together and knees apart. Sometimes you may need to change position during the test.
2. They'll gently put a smooth, tube-shaped tool (a speculum) into your vagina. A small amount of lubricant may be used.
3. The nurse will open the speculum so they can see your cervix.
4. Using a soft brush, they'll take a small sample of cells from your cervix.
5. The nurse will close and remove the speculum.

The cervical screening test itself should take less than 5 minutes. The whole appointment should take about 10 minutes.

Results are expected 4 -6 weeks after your test.

Your cervical screening results letter will explain if human papillomavirus (HPV) was found in your sample, what your result means, and what happens next.

NHS:

- NHS cervical screening guidance

- “Cervical Screening – Why me?” a poem by Jill Wass, Public Health Programme Manager at NHS England - Yorkshire and The Humber.

Click here to watch a video set to Jill's poem on cervical screening. 

Public Health England:

- Support for people who find it hard to attend cervical screening

Easy Read Guide:

- Cervical screening: an easy guide - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance - Learning for Professionals:

- Cancer Champion sessions, including sessions on cervical cancer and the screening programme available.