Cervical Screening Awareness Posted or Updated on 16 Jun 2025

Cervical Screening Awareness Week is happening this year from 19th to 24th June. The week aims to highlight the importance of regular cervical screening for women’s health.

· Two women per day die in the UK from cervical cancer – it is the most common form of cancer in women under the age of 35.

· In England cervical screening currently prevents 70% of cervical cancer deaths. If everyone attended screening regularly, 83% could be prevented. Despite this, many women are reluctant to have the test done – in Lambeth only 62.7% of eligible 25-64 year olds attend when invited, in some PCNs this figure is much lower (as low as 53.8%).

· The screening process checks for a virus called high-risk HPV, which causes almost all cervical cancers. This is the best way to find out who is at higher risk of developing cervical cell changes that, if left untreated, over time could lead to cervical cancer.

· The aim of this awareness week is to encourage uptake of cervical screening, as well as provide information and reassurance to women about the test