Cervical Screening

Question 1

Why screen for cervical cancer?

Answer 1

Reduce the incidence of invasive cancer of the cervix

Question 2

Who requires diagnostic testing NOT screening?

Answer 2

Any woman with symptoms;

• unusual vaginal discharge/bleeding
• bleeding after sex/between periods
• dyspareunia

Question 3

Who recieves cervical screening?

Answer 3

Every 3 years: women aged 25-49

Every 5 years: women aged 50-64

Question 4

What does cervical screening involve?

Answer 4

• Visual examination of the cervix
• Brush sample of the cells from the transformation zone of the cervix
  
  • liquid based cytology (soon to be primary HPV testing)

Question 5

What is the benefit of primary HPV testing?

Answer 5

• enables faster investigation of those at higher risk of developing cervical cancer and reassurance to those at very low risk.
• reduce the number of unnecessary screening and colposcopy appointments among women with borderline/low grade cervical screening cytology results or who have been treated for abnormal cells.