Do I need a smear test?

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Firstly, I think they are so important so please get them ladies but my question is should I getting one this week?

I am nearly 34, had my first at 24 just before turning 25, again at 27 & 30. I got a text a while ago to say to book my smear a couple months ago, I rang up to book it.

online guidance says it should be now every 5 years?! If your previous tests have been okay - which they have, they’ve all come back negative for HPV, I’ve never had any symptoms.

I feel like I’m wasting an appointment as it’s now every 5 years?! I assume my gps reminder system hadn’t been updated when I got my reminder to book it (it’s been 3 years!)

If they'll do it I'd definitely go. It's five years because it's cheaper for the NHS. Not because it is the gold standard of care.

I’d double check personally. I thought that labs would reject ‘early’ requests and so you might end up having a smear and then it being discarded.

Thanks, going to try and get through but I’ll have to commit a good chunk of my day for it as there’s always a queue on the phone…

My last one a few months ago letter said I’d get my next one in 3 years . Even though the nurse said 5 so I’m confused on this too

Hi everyone I had mine done last year before the change to 5 years and my letter says I am due in 2027. My sister had hers in the summer after the change over and hers said 2030, she was confused because she hadn’t seen the change online whereas I had on cancer research and showed her the link. I think it means if in England your last test was before the change over you are still in 3 year but if after you are on 5, so it only changes tests going forward and doesn’t change any from before I hope that makes sense. Your GP can hopefully clear this up for you, I think it’s been really confusing but this is the link I found:

news.cancerresearchuk.org/2025/06/10/nhs-england-changes-cervical-screening-to-every-5-years/

I’ve had the same reminder and queried it with my GPs. They said to come to this one and then it’ll be every 5 years.

Hi, from what I’ve read and asked at my GP, I believe that the new 5 year gap is only if you’ve had a negative smear test since the changes come about in the summer of 2025, if your last negative smear test was prior to summer 2025 then it’ll still be 3 years as form your last smear, if it is negative again you’ll move over to the new 5 year gap!