Should I shave my legs? Will it hurt? What if the test comes back abnormal? Here's what to expect from your first cervical screening test.
By Jess Matthews
I think it's good to start with a list of what a cervical screening test (also called a smear test or PAP screen) is as outlined by the NHS.
All people who have a cervix age 25 to 64 are invited by letter to cervical screening (a smear test) to check the health of their cervix.
Everyone with a cervix should go for cervical screening.
The cervix is the opening of your womb from your vagina.
It's not a test for cancer, it's a test to help prevent cancer.
During the screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix.
The sample is checked for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
If these types of HPV are not found, you do not need any further tests.
If these types of HPV are found, the sample is checked for any changes in the cells of your cervix. These can be treated before they get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.
The nurse or doctor will tell you when you can expect your results letter.
So, what does this all mean and what is your first cervical screening test like? To begin with you will get a letter in the post inviting you for a cervical screening test around 6 months before your 25th birthday. Once you receive this letter you call your GP practice and book an appointment. For me the appointment was booked roughly 2 weeks after I got the letter. On the day of your appointment, I would recommend wearing loose or easy to remove clothing on your lower body, it is also a good idea to take a couple of paracetamol or ibuprofen an hour or so before your appointment.
When you go into your appointment it will more than likely be with either a female nurse or doctor. If you need to you can also ask to have a chaperone with you, this can be a friend, family member or another healthcare professional. You will then sit down and have a chat with the nurse or doctor, they will ask you a set of questions around your reproductive health. If you have any questions about the test now is a good time to ask them. Once you have done this the nurse or doctor will then explain the procedure to you.
The nurse or doctor will then ask you to go behind the curtain and undress from the waist down, you can then get on the bed and cover yourself back up if you want to with the sheet provided. Then you will be asked to lie back on the bed, usually with your legs bent, feet together and knees apart. Sometimes they will ask you to change position during the test. They will then gently insert the speculum (a smooth, tube-shaped device). A small amount of lubricant may also be used when doing this. Once they have inserted the speculum, they will then slowly open it so that they can visualize your cervix. This will feel uncomfortable but in my experience was not painful. The nurse or doctor will then use a small brush (much smaller than a toothbrush) to collect the cells from your cervix. They will twist the brush over your cervix a couple of times to ensure they have collected enough of a sample. Once the sample has been collected, they will then remove the speculum and the test is done. The nurse or doctor will then go onto the other side of the curtain, and you can get dressed again. In total the test takes less than 5 minutes. The nurse or doctor will then inform you on how long the results will take to come back, you will get the results in a letter via the post. For me the results took around 2 weeks to arrive.
Once you receive your results of the test it will either be normal (HPV negative) or abnormal (HPV positive). If the test is normal, you will not need to have another cervical screening test for between 3 and 5 years depending on your age. If the test does come back as abnormal you may need another cervical screening test in 1 year or another type of test to look at your cervix called a colposcopy. HPV is a common virus, and most people will get it at some point. It can be transmitted through any kind of sexual contact.
There are two types of HPV positive results they are listed below:
If the result is HPV positive but no abnormal cell changes were found, you will be invited for screening in 1 year and again 1 year later if you still have HPV. If you still have HPV after 2 years, you'll be asked to have a colposcopy.
If the result is HPV positive and abnormal cell changes were found, you will be asked to have a colposcopy. To find out what a colposcopy is click here and it will take you to the NHS website.
In summary, cervical screening tests are extremely important. They are uncomfortable but are over very quickly. The nurse or doctor is only looking for the ever-elusive cervix and isn't fazed about whether you've shaved your legs or if you have ripped underwear on. They are a nerve-wracking test to have done but I can assure you will help put your mind at ease about your cervical health. Personally, I was very anxious before my first cervical screening test but once it was over, I felt a sense of relief. I remember thinking ‘wow if I can do that with how nervous I was feeling I can do anything’. The final thing I have to say is a positive result doesn't always mean cancer but if that's what they find early treatment is always better.
