if you are aged 25-49, the gap between routine tests has changed from 3 to 5 years if HPV is not found on your next test.

[Gwenhwyfar]

Just raising awareness of this really. A gynaecologist told me this would happen a few years ago, but I was ridiculed when I said so on MN.

Here's the Public Health Wales post:
www.facebook.com/PublicHealthWales/photos/a.416561841773060/4649429715152897/?cft[0]=AZU-bnAucS24r3A7fs7U5ckvjhMymUMyZ-P-zboYLW4At28uSThYBUQAkK8MHebnwAR6-kuzWlpAkPywOLmK-orDNrMC1cfH-jBxCDDH0EdaqB-ROTYcL6mduQgIueTuh8kRH87z61m4l074yZ2ELGlHBvP01WM8-eewOMLE5PVXyw&tn=%2CO%2CP-R

Scotland changed to a 5 year gap when screening resumed after the covid lockdown.

England still seem to be on 3 years.

Yes it's up at 5 years in Scotland too . The Scottish government's justification is there is a better test now but I would still want one every 3 years.

There's a petition that Sian Harries posted on twitter if you're on there OP. I'll try and find the link.

www.change.org/p/public-health-wales-keep-cervical-screening-to-3-years-and-not-extended-to-5-years?recruiter=false&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_medium=whatsapp&utm_content=washarecopy_31922582_en-GB%3A0&recruited_by_id=3fcb63b0-6da8-11ec-b4c1-8911ad787641

That should be the petition

I read that ultimately the interval could be stretched to 10 years with HPV vaccination. So tests at 30, 40, and 50. I think this was in relation to the Dutch programme which started HPV primary screening a good while before the UK.

It is a difficult one because we have been led to believe that regular screening is important, but the old smear test that was used was very inaccurate. Hopefully they will scrutinise the results from other countries well.

People over a certain age haven't been vaccinated though Melrose.

However, having done a bit of googling to see what happens in other countries, the move to 5 years seems to be in line with what happens internationally so maybe I was too quick to criticise.

It is only women over a certain age have not been vaccinated. Men who have sex with men are eligible for vaccination up to 45 (which is where the vaccine is licensed to - it just hasn't been tested beyond that).

Women over vaccination age are likely to have to have the more frequent 5 yearly screening until they age out of the system.

"Women over vaccination age are likely to have to have the more frequent 5 yearly screening until they age out of the system."

Did you mean 3-yearly? Because I don't think it's the case that there is a different timing for unvaccinated women. Seems to be the same for all in the age group mentioned by PHW.

I've been wondering why I haven't been invited in as I'm due this year. Thanks for the heads up.

@dudsville

I've been wondering why I haven't been invited in as I'm due this year. Thanks for the heads up.

I'm amazed you have a calendar reminder for it.

If the link between cancer and HPV is clearly understood then I can see why they could move to 5 years. Especially ad if they do detect the virus you get annual checks instead of the 3 years. Ir you did when I last went.

I'd feel happier if they were vaccinating older women too if the link between the virus and cancer is clear. What age are the oldest vaccinated women?

My dd is 20 and I think she got the jab the first year it was being offered in Wales. That's a lot of unvaccinated women.

@DrMadelineMaxwell

My dd is 20 and I think she got the jab the first year it was being offered in Wales. That's a lot of unvaccinated women.

And your DD is not even part of the age group in question.

"I'd feel happier if they were vaccinating older women too if the link between the virus and cancer is clear. What age are the oldest vaccinated women?"

The argument used to be that it was too late if you'd already been in contact with HPV, but maybe not all adult women have, and it is given to adult women in some countries.

The argument used to be that it was too late if you'd already been in contact with HPV, but maybe not all adult women have, and it is given to adult women in some countries.

I don't understand though why MSM can still have the HPV vaccine when they are just as likely to have already had contact with HPV? Does anyone know the reasoning behind this?

I can understand changing it for those who have been vaccinated but I don't understand changing it for women who were too old to benefit from the vaccine.

I'm in England. I think women in Scotland and wales should have 3 yearly if that's what we have!

I've had previous LLETZ treatment due to CIN2, a separate colposcopy after this years later but all ok then, last smear ok but still testing positive for HPV. I'm still on yearly recall I think because of the last abnormal smear and HPV but I find it massively reassuring. My mum also needed treatment for pre-cancerous cells and an aunt (not blood related but still makes you aware of these things and obviously upset!) died of cervical cancer.

"I don't understand though why MSM can still have the HPV vaccine when they are just as likely to have already had contact with HPV? Does anyone know the reasoning behind this?"

Maybe they are at higher risk for STDs overall?

Maybe they are at higher risk for STDs overall?

Yeah but that's not much comfort to the women who could also benefit, and even if they're at higher risk for other STDs, the HPV vaccine won't help with those. also whilst HPV can cause other cancers, from what I read before it is far more likely to cause cervical cancer than anything else.

I don't know... there's something about it that seems off for me... women being lower priority as usual.

This is actually a safe, sensible, well evidenced decision. It's already done this way in numerous other countries. Yes of course it will save the NHS a bit of cash (not a huge amount) but it's not like the NHS wants more women with cervical cancer, needing expensive treatment,

Why Public Health Wales thought they could announce it with little/no explanation as to why it was being done is beyond me. Of course women were going to be horrified, on the face of it, it sounds like an awful, women hating, cost cutting measure. It really isn't.

@LumosSolem

HPV takes 10 years or more to turn into cancer. They are still scanning those with HPV present regularly. This change is only for those without HPV present.

Oh and Wales started the HPV testing earlier than England, hence the early change. Let's hope they announce this advancement in medical science in a more user-friendly way when it rolls over. Which it will.

@HairyLeri that's good if it's supported by science. I suppose it speaks volumes about the NHS that the immediate assumption is they are cutting costs at women's expense. But good that it's not the case in this instance.

Out of interest when did testing for HPV begin in Wales? When I had my first smear in 2013 they were testing for HPV - I think it was part of a pilot/not widespread. I was living in East Anglia at the time. All my subsequent smears have also been tested for HPV in different parts of England as well.

@HairyLeri my sister had a smear just before Covid hit in 2020, so less than 2 years ago. Absolutely clear.

She's currently fighting stage 4 cervical cancer.

This is why women are worried. The stats can tell a story, but there are many women like my sister who have developed cancer without HPV flags being waved, or indeed anything else. That's another story and frankly one I listen to with more credibilty.

Admittedly the 3 year cycle wouldn't have caught her either, but combined with the impossible task of getting your cervix actually examined by a HCP (took my sister 4 months for her medical centre to stop dismissing her symptoms and physically check her over) the latest announcement is basically a big "fuck you" to women. Our healthcare system is not robust enough anymore to rely on women being able to be checked if they're concerned. More frequent screening, not less would alleviate at least some of that.

2018 it became a routine part. England was 2019. There were 15 years of pilots.

@HopefulProcrastinator I'm so sorry to read about your sister- that is absolutely terrifying. I remember visiting my aunt in hospital when she had cervical cancer. There are no words. I really really hope they are able to successfully treat your sister 💐

@LumosSolem thank you. She is determined to beat it even with the odds stacked high against her so hopefully her attitude helps the treatment do it's job.