To mark Cervical Screening Awareness Week, the NHS is reminding women to come forward for these vitally important tests.

Millions of women are being urged to come forward for cervical screening as figures show a third of eligible under 50s didn’t take up the potentially lifesaving offer.

The latest NHS figures show that as of December last year, 65.8 per cent of the 11 million eligible women aged 25 to 49 took up their cervical screening invitation and were screened within the recommended time, while the proportion was 74.1 per cent among women aged 50 to 64.

NHS cervical screening helps to prevent cervical cancer by using a highly effective test to check for high-risk HPV, which causes almost all of cervical cancers. HPV can cause abnormal cells to develop in the cervix and if left untreated, these cells can turn into cervical cancer over time. That is why it’s important to come forward for screening when invited.

Women are invited for screening by the NHS every three to five years depending on their age, or more frequently if HPV is detected.

In 2022-23, everyone in England who was due a test – 4.62 million individuals aged 25 to 64 – was invited to book an appointment, and 3.43 million attended screening during the year.

Steve Russell, chief delivery officer and national director for vaccinations and screening for NHS England, said: “We have set an ambitious target of eliminating cervical cancer within the next two decades – one of the few countries in the world who have committed to this – and we are doing everything we can to achieve our ambition by making it as easy as possible to make appointments, and continuing to send invites and reminders to all eligible women.

“But in order to make this a reality we need to see more women coming forward for their cervical screening appointments when invited – even if you previously missed your appointment, don’t wait around for another invitation before contacting your GP practice – you can still book in now and this could save your life.”

Last year the NHS pledged to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 by making it as easy as possible for people to get the lifesaving HPV vaccination and increasing cervical screening uptake.

More information on NHS cervical screening and how to book an appointment is available here.