In March, the colposcopy team at Leicester’s Hospitals delivered cervical screening for the community. Over 200 people attended. The team are holding the next Cervical Screening drop-in clinics on:
Saturday 22 June 2019
9am-4pm
General Hospital Gynaecology Services Unit (GSU) (Maternity entrance)
Royal Infirmary Gynaecology Outpatients (Ground floor Kensington building)
These clinics are only for those who are due for cervical screening (a smear test) due before 22 September 2019.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I find out when my last smear was?
You can get the date from your GP surgery. If you attend the drop-in clinic please bring along your last cervical screening date (a smear date) and your GP details.
What is the age range for a smear test?
All women who are registered with a GP are invited for cervical screening:
- aged 25 to 49 – every 3 years,
- aged 50 to 64 – every 5 years and
- over 65 – only women who have recently had abnormal tests.
Read more on Jo’s Trust website about why cervical smear tests start at 25 years old: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/about-cervical-cancer/cervical-screening/cervical-screening-under25?fbclid=IwAR1aI2_pIYNJBB8J6iqDrjWJO4H02GXHaWJxmiZVQD4UX2_IbgTG405UjfQ
Can I attend if I am on my period?
If your bleeding is light on the day of the test it should be fine.
Can I attend if I am pregnant and due for my cervical screening (smear test)?
We do not do cervical screening (smear tests) on pregnant women. It’s safe to have it done 3 months after your delivery.
What is involved in a cervical screening?
The cervical screening test usually takes around 5 minutes to carry out. You'll be asked to undress from the waist down and lie on a couch. If you're wearing a loose skirt you can usually remain fully dressed and just remove your underwear. The doctor or nurse will gently put an instrument called a speculum into your vagina. This holds the walls of the vagina open so the cervix can be seen. A small soft brush will be used to gently collect some cells from the surface of your cervix. Some women find the procedure a bit uncomfortable or embarrassing, but for most women it isn't painful. If you find the test painful, tell the doctor or nurse as they may be able to reduce your discomfort. Try to relax as much as possible as being tense makes the test more difficult to carry out. Taking slow, deep breaths might help. You can also bring someone along to the appointment with you if you want support. The cell sample is then sent off to a laboratory for analysis.
What to expect once you have had the screening test:
- Cervical screening takes place
- Tests sent to the laboratory for analysis
- Results sent to the GP and the screened woman
- Patient can call into the GP at any point to check on results status
Please note it is worth checking with your GP for your results or if you have queries about when your next test is due.
Contact information
If you would like to find out more or have any queries please email cervicalsmear@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
