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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 should you have a cervical smear test?

The National Cervical Screening Programme recommends women have a cervical smear test every three years from the time they turn 20 until they turn 70. Three-yearly testing gives very good protection against developing cervical cancer, while keeping to a minimum the number of smears a woman has in her lifetime.

The table below shows the protection women gain from regular screening at different intervals.

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 year

92.5%

25

3 year

90.8%

16

5 year

83.6%

10

10 year

64.1%

5

 

You can see there is only minimum benefit from having a cervical smear test more often than every three years.

When should you have cervical smears more frequently?

There are specific situations where the National Cervical Screening Programme advises women 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 over 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. 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.
  • 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

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 between periods
  • bleeding after sexual intercourse
  • bleeding after menstrual periods have stopped (menopause)
  • unusual discharge from the vagina
  • persistent pain in your pelvis
  • pain during sexual intercourse.

These symptoms can occur for many reasons, but should be checked out.