This week is Cervical Screening Awareness Week, a UK-wide initiative led by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust to highlight the importance of cervical screening.

Cervical screening, or the smear test as it is more commonly known, detects pre-cancerous cells which could lead to cervical cancer.

In the UK, around 3,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year, which amounts to 2% of all cancers in women.

However, 22% of women still do not attend regular cervical screening, and in 2012/13, around 3.7 million women were overdue smear tests – a rise of 11 per cent from 2009/10.

At YourGP, cervical screenings are part of the Well Woman check, which also includes breast examination, vaginal and pelvic examination, and menopausal support.

Having your cervical screening sample taken should only take a matter of minutes, with your dignity and any concerns being respected at all times.

Importantly, the Well Woman check not only offers peace of mind, it can also catch any problems before they develop allowing you to take the necessary preventative steps.

As well as providing cervical screening as part of the Well Woman check, we also offer the GARDASIL® Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, which is proven protection against the human papillomavirus (HPV) – the virus that causes cervical cancer.

Vaccination is vital, as over 80% of sexually active women will become infected with the virus in their lifetime.

Unlike cervical screenings, GARDASIL® is suitable for females and males from 9 to 26-years-old, although it is not suitable for women who are pregnant.

To enquire about cervical screening or the GARDASIL® vaccination, please call our reception team on [contentblock id=”phone] or email us at [contentblock id=email].

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