Different types of health screening

Overview of NHS screening programmes and what they check for at different life stages.

Cervical cancer screening

Cervical screening checks for abnormal cells in the cervix that could lead to cancer. It’s quick, usually painless, and done at your GP surgery or local clinic. You’ll be invited:

  • Every 3 years (ages 25 to 49)
  • Every 5 years (ages 50 to 64)

If you’ve never had a smear test, book one now. You can ask to see a female doctor or nurse. Local clinics offering cervical screening include:

More clinics are listed on ‘Let’s Talk About It’ and you can find more information on the NHS cervical screening programme.

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