If you are registered with a GP, you should receive a letter inviting you to come for your cervical smear when it is time for you to have one. Then, all you need to do is make an appointment with your GP or family planning clinic to be screened. If it has been more than five years since your last cervical smear, contact your GP to make sure that you are registered.

Your appointment should be made during the middle of your menstrual cycle, about 2 weeks after the end of your last period. When you call to book your appointment, they will tell you what you need to do to prepare for it. In general, you should:

• avoid using any treatments inside your vagina for 2 days before your appointment
• avoid having sex the night before your appointment.

These precautions will help to make sure your cervical smear can be screened properly and save you from having to make another appointment for a repeat smear.

When you go for your appointment, you will be asked to lie on a couch and an instrument called a speculum will be gently inserted into your vagina. Most women do not find this painful, although it can be uncomfortable if you are very tense. The speculum allows the doctor or nurse to clearly see your cervix and a sample of cervical cells will then be collected using a small spatula or brush. These cells will be sent to the laboratory where they will be examined to see if any are abnormal. If any abnormal cells are found, they will be graded according to the severity of the abnormalities seen. A report will be sent to your doctor who will then send a letter to you to tell you of the results.

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© 2009 European Cervical Cancer Association