What is Cervical screening?
Cervical screening, which used to be called a smear test, is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer. It’s offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64.
Why is it important?
Cervical screening is one of the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer.
How does cervical screening help prevent cancer?
Cervical screening checks the health of your cervix and helps find any abnormal changes before they can turn into cancer.
It’s not a test for cancer, it’s a test to help prevent cancer.
Cervical screening checks a sample of cells from your cervix for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
These types of HPV can cause abnormal changes to the cells in your cervix and are called “high-risk” types of HPV.
If high-risk types of HPV are found during screening, the sample of cells is also checked for abnormal cell changes.
If abnormal cells are found, they can be treated so they do not get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.
Reasons for not attending the screening?
From the poll results, only 3/10 women in the discussion had an updated screening done. Based on our online discussions participants shared that:
- The fear of finding out you have cancer means you will die and they don’t want that information.
- I think more explanation needs to be shared beforehand about the whole procedure
- The experience is uncomfortable
- Culturally some women are scared that it interferes with the preservation of virginity.
- Language barrier for some women who receive a letter but do not understand English
At the end of the discussion, we challenge all women to get their screening done.
About The Author
