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

Senedd debate on the petition today: www.facebook.com/seneddcymru/videos/7556446657714185/?notif_id=1642620638710906&notif_t=live_video&ref=notif

@HopefulProcrastinator I am so sorry to hear about your sister. It is a horribly scary thing.

Unfortunately no screening is perfect, it just isn't possible and this change to 5 years is very evidence based on the back of the change to HPV testing. I don't think it is made clear enough that no screening is perfect, no screening picks up everything, there are always false negatives and false positives (not lots, because otherwise the screening programme wouldn't be cost effective enough to implement). And screening can't say for certain what will happen in the interval between screening (though going from the previous test to the HPV testing halved the risk of interval cancer even though the gap lengthens from 3 to 5 years).

In 2020 my nhs test said HPV negative (so no cell change test carried out) , 5 months later a private gynaecologist did another smear because she noticed something by chance when seeing me for something else. It came up HPV positive. 2 years later after further private tests I quickly went from borderline changes to severe CGIN and been told I likely have early cervical cancer. I had surgery last week and awaiting pathology results. If I had never gone to the private gynaecologist I would be none the wiser and think I’m clear, my next smear wouldn’t be until next year, by which stage id likely be in serious trouble. I thank god I happened to go for that private appointment.

I was HPV clear on my last smear all normal I booked my smear on time in 3 years I have progressed to severe abnormal cell changes and i will have a Colposcopy next week. I'm also vaccinated was one of the first ones to get it. They shouldn't change to 5 year checks no way