Free Smear Clinic
A cervical screening test is a free test to check the health of your cervix. The cervix is the
opening to your womb from your vagina.
It’s not a test for cancer, it’s a test to see if you are currently at risk of developing cancer.
Screening first looks to see if you have any of the high-risk types of human papillomavirus
(HPV) that cause cervical cancer.
If HPV is found, your same test sample will be checked to see if you have any abnormal
(pre-cancerous) cells in your cervix.
This is a new way of screening. It is called HPV cervical screening. It was introduced in
Ireland in March 2020.
Key things to know about cervical screening:
It’s not a test for cancer, it’s a test to see if you are currently at risk of developing cancer.
All women or people with a cervix aged 25 to 65 should be invited for regular free screening
by letter.
During the screening test, a small sample of cells is taken from your cervix.
The sample is tested for HPV.
HPV can cause abnormal cell changes in the cervix.
HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer.
If your sample tests positive for HPV, we will check for abnormal cells.
Abnormal cell changes are sometimes called pre-cancerous cells.
In most cases, it takes 10 to 15 years for cells in the cervix to go from normal to pre-cancer
to cancer.
Finding HPV or abnormal cells early means you can be monitored or treated so that any
abnormal cells do not turn into cervical cancer.
You’ll get your results by letter, usually about 4 to 6 weeks after your screening test.