Cervical screening: what you should know

This leaflet provides information about cervical screening and the Northern Ireland Cervical Screening Programme. It explains how screening is carried out, who is eligible for screening, what happens at a screening appointment, and how screening samples are processed. It also covers screening test results and the risks and benefits of taking part in the screening programme.

Cervical screening is not a check for other cancers of the reproductive system, such as ovary, womb, vulval or vaginal cancer.

Do not wait to contact a GP if you have any concerns.

Translations into 10 languages and a large print accessible Word version of this leaflet are available below. Please note that the translations are of the 2023 version of the leaflet.