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Why should you have a cervical smear test?

Women who have regular cervical smear tests every three years as part of a screening programme reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer by about 90 percent.

Treatment of abnormal cells is very effective at preventing cancer as abnormal cells in the cervix change very slowly. In the early stages many will disappear on their own accord, and no treatment is needed. It can take as long as ten or more years for abnormal cells to develop into cancer.

How often do women need a cervical smear test?

The NCSP recommends that women have a cervical smear test every three years from the time they turn 20 until they turn 70.

Three-yearly testing has been chosen because it gives very good protection against developing cervical cancer while keeping to a minimum the number of smears a woman needs in her lifetime. 

 

Interval between cervical smear tests

 
Reduction in incidence of cervical cancer

 
Number of tests in a woman's lifetime

 

1 year

93.5%

50

2 years

92.5%

25

3 years

90.8%

16

5 years

83.6%

10

10 years

64.1%

5

 

The table above shows that there is very little extra benefit in having tests more often than three-yearly.

 

When should you have cervical smear tests more often?

There are certain clinical situations in which a woman may be advised to have cervical smear tests more often than every three years.

  • When a woman has her first cervical smear test, or has not had a smear test for more than five years, she will be advised to have another smear test a year later.  This is to reduce the chances of any abnormal cells being missed.  If both results are normal, she will then be advised to have cervical smear tests every three years.
  • If a woman has had an unsatisfactory smear or has had an abnormal cervical smear result, she will be asked to come back sooner than in three years.  Her smear taker or doctor will advise her when to have her next smear or if she needs further checks.
  • Women who are treated for a high-grade abnormality are advised to have a cervical smear test each year.  Some of these women may return to
    three-yearly screening if two consecutive annual tests (including both a cervical smear test and an HPV test) come up clear.
  • Women who have a lowered immune system because:
    • they are taking certain drugs, for example, steroids, for an organ transplant, or for other conditions
    • they have certain illnesses or infections, for example, HIV may have a higher risk of developing cervical cell abnormalities and will be advised to have cervical smear tests each year.
 

But see your doctor straight away if you experience any of the following:
  • bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods
  • bleeding or spotting after sexual intercourse
  • bleeding or spotting after menstrual periods have stopped (after menopause)
  • unusual discharge from your vagina
  • persistent pain in your pelvis
  • pain during sexual intercourse.

These symptoms can happen for several reasons and rarely mean that you have cervical cancer.  However, they should be checked out.