Smear tests

A cervical screening test (sometimes known as a smear test) is carried out to check for abnormal cells on a woman’s cervix. The cervix is the entrance to the womb and is inside the vagina.

Abnormal cells can later lead to cervical cancer which currently affects around 3,000 women every year, so it’s an important test to have.

If you are registered with a GP and eligible for smear testing you will get a letter inviting you to attend a cervical screening appointment. You should then arrange your appointment at your GP practice for a time when you think you will not be on your period.

Sexual health clinics do not routinely offering cervical smear testing. If you are attending a clinic for another reason, they may be able to provide a cervical smear test but only if the practitioner reviewing you is a qualified smear taker.

You can also access smear testing at one of the local drop in cervical smear services:

• Tuesday evening from 1730-1930 at Clinic 2, Centre For Women’s Health, Royal Devon University Hospital – Exeter
• Tuesday evenings from 1730-1930 at Petter Ward, Ladywell Unit, Royal Devon University Hospital – Barnstaple

To find your nearest GP service, you can use our find a service tool.

From July 2025, routine cervical screening intervals will be extended from 3 to 5 years for participants aged 25-49 who test negative after attending cervical screening on or after this date.

Studies have shown that if a person tests negative for HPV they are extremely unlikely to go on to develop cervical cancer within the next 10 years.

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It looks for abnormal cells in the cervix. Abnormal cells can develop into cancer if left untreated.

The test involves using a soft brush to take a small sample of cells from the surface of your cervix. The sample is put into a small plastic container and sent to a laboratory. It is tested for the types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. If you have a negative result for the most common types of HPV that cause cervical cancer, your risk of cervical cancer is very low and there is no need to check for abnormal cells even if you have had these in the past.

If you have a positive result for HPV the lab will check the sample for abnormal cells. Abnormal cells are not cancer, but they could develop into cancer if left untreated.

As a next step the screening programme may offer you another examination (called a colposcopy) to look at your cervix more closely. If abnormal cells are found during colposcopy the cells will be removed. This is how screening can prevent cervical cancer.

More information is available here.