Major change to NHS cancer screening tests as health chiefs reveal millions of women affected
Those under 50 will only be called forward every five years - instead of three like they currently are.
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The plans, announced on Tuesday by NHS England, are said to be "in line" with "major" clinical evidence that suggests just as many cancer cases would be detected.
Health chiefs said the changes would enable 'millions of women and people with a cervix in England to benefit from more personalised cervical screening'.
"This new guidance is good news for those at low risk because they will no longer need to go for cervical screening as often," Athena Lamnisos, CEO of The Eve Appeal, said.
Scotland and Wales have already introduced this protocol, which will start in England from July 1.
Under the NHS screening system, which replaced smears, cells are tested for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which causes almost all cervical cancer.
Traditional smear tests, also known as pap smears, looked for all abnormal cells directly but were less accurate than the new cervical screening tests.
Currently, women aged 25 to 49 in England are offered such checks every three years, with screening every five years for those aged 50 to 64.
If HPV is found, checks are then repeated each year, with further investigations if any cell abnormalities are found.
More regular screening is also offered to those with a recent history of HPV.
Under the new system, checks on those with positive results will remain annual.
Cervical cancer could be eradicated as HPV vaccine slashes 90% of cases
But the standard gap for those who test negative will extend from three years to five for women aged 25 to 49.
This is because research shows they are at very low risk of cervical cancer for the next ten years and can safely wait longer to be screened again.
"This brings it in line with the screening gap for older women, following a similar approach to that used in Australia, the Netherlands, and Sweden
Under the NHS plan, if a woman aged between 25 and 49 had a negative result, but previously had a positive test, they would still get a test three years later.
Health chiefs said the new approach was more 'personalised' than previous approaches.
Screening will also continue to be offered to trans men if they still have a cervix.
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Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: 'We welcome this change to cervical screening in England, which is the result of years of vital research to make screening more effective and has shown it is safe to extend the time between tests.
'Screening, alongside the roll out of the HPV vaccine – which Cancer Research UK scientists helped develop – have seen cervical cancer rates drop by around a quarter since the early 1990s, and we look forward to even more progress.
'If you notice any unusual changes for you, do not wait for a screening invitation – speak to your doctor.'
DIY cancer check
Cervical screening programmes and HPV vaccines have reduced rates and save 5,000 lives each year.
Around 3,300 new cases are identified annually - that's around nine every day.
And one in 130 women in the UK will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in their lifetime.
Earlier this year, the NHS announced an at-home cervical screening tests could be rolled out in England from early 2026 for free.
A new trial, known as the King's College London YouScreen trial, is the biggest to date and shows how the DIY kit can boost the numbers of women getting screened.
Figures show that cervical screening uptake is declining, with nearly a third of women in England - particularly younger women - not taking up their most recent test.
Experts say women may refuse testing due to a lack of convenient appointments, embarrassment and worries about the test causing pain.
The new plan includes expanding the "ping and book" service, which sends reminders for screening appointments.
Who's at risk of cervical cancer?
Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by an infection with certain high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is the name for a very common group of viruses that most people will get some type of HPV during their lives.
It's very common and nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about.
You can get HPV from any kind of skin-to-skin contact of the genital area, not just from penetrative sex.
This includes:
Vaginal, oral or anal sex
Any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area
Sharing sex toys
In most cases your body will get rid of HPV without it causing any problems.
But sometimes HPV can stay in your body for a long time and some types of high risk types of HPV can cause cervical cancer.
If high risk types of HPV stay in your body, they can cause changes to the cells in your cervix. These changes may become cervical cancer if not treated.
How to lower your risk of cervical cancer
You can't always prevent cervical cancer. But there are things you can do to lower your chances of getting cervical cancer.
Cervical screening and HPV vaccination are the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer.
All women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 are invited for regular cervical screening. It helps find and treat any changes in the cells of the cervix before they can turn into cancer.
All children aged 12 to 13 are offered the HPV vaccine. It helps protect against the types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer, as well as some other cancers and genital warts.
You can also lower your chance of getting cervical cancer by:
Using condoms, which lower your chance of getting HPV – but they do not cover all the skin around your genitals so you're not fully protected
Quitting smoking – smoking can weaken your immune system and the chemicals in cigarettes can also cause cervical cancer
Source: NHS
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