New research reveals a lack of understanding about cervical screening and why some don’t attend

Out of the 1070 women surveyed, 9 in every 10 (92%) said they thought they understood the purpose of cervical screening ‘very or fairly well’. However, nearly 2 in 3 (58%) respondents wrongly thought that a cervical screening test detected cancer in the early stages and only 1 in 3 women (32%) knew that the test was to prevent cancer from developing.   

A quarter of women (26%) thought it acted as a general gynaecological health check and the same amount (26%) thought it picked up all gynaecological cancers.  

The survey also found a range of barriers to attending a cervical screening appointment. Of the people questioned who had been invited for a screening but not attended, nearly 1 in 3 (29%) said they ‘didn’t want to have one’ and 27% said they had had ‘a bad experience with cervical screening in the past’. 16% said they ‘didn’t have time’ and 12% said the test ‘wasn’t a priority at that time'. 

The survey was commissioned for Cervical Screening Awareness Week which runs from 17 to 23 June. Every day in the UK, two women lose their lives to cervical cancer and nine more receive a life-changing diagnosis. Cervical cancer can affect anyone with a cervix at any age but it is most common between the ages of 30-34. 

Cervical screening is a test offered to women and people with a cervix aged between 25 and 64 to help prevent cervical cancer. It looks for HPV (the virus which causes nearly all cervical cancers) and any changes to the cells which can then be treated or monitored to prevent them developing into cancer. Cervical Screening Awareness Week highlights the importance of regular screening to try and increase attendance. 

Athena Lamnisos, The Eve Appeal CEO, says: “These survey findings clearly show that we have two jobs to do – communicating what the cervical screening test is for and overcoming the barriers to attendance. If we can do the first one effectively, it should have a real impact on the second. We have a very successful cervical screening programme in this country, it’s already estimated to save over 5,000 lives each year. We need to keep increasing that number by making sure people attend their tests when they are offered them. A big part of that is empowering them with information. We know cervical screening isn’t easy for everybody, and we are here with information, tips and support to help you get screened.” 

The Eve Appeal has put together some information and tips to help make cervical screening tests a bit easier here: eveappeal.org.uk/screening 

Anyone can contact Ask Eve, The Eve Appeal’s nurse-led information service, for information and advice on gynae health, including HPV, cervical screening and follow up - by emailing nurse@eveappeal.org.uk or calling 0808 802 0019.