Changes to Cervical Screening

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme saves thousands of lives every year by detecting abnormal cells in the cervix that could develop into cancer, if left untreated.

How often people need to have cervical screening has changed on 1st July 2025. Improvements in HPV testing enables the NHS to now offer a more personalised approach to preventing cervical cancer, which means those identified as lower risk won’t need to be screened as frequently, and those at higher risk will continue to be monitored more regularly.

Changes to screening invitation interval

If you are 25-49 years old and test negative for HPV from the 1st July 2025 – you will be invited every 5 years.

If you are 25-49 years old and your cervical screening shows you have HPV, you will be invited for another screening in 1 years time. If your screening shows HPV and any changes to cells, you will be referred by the screening programme for a colposcopy at the hospital.

Women aged 50 – 64 are already invited every 5 years.

Those aged 25-49 who have had a cervical screening prior to 1st July 2025, will be recalled 3 years from screening date. When you have your next cervical screening, and you test negative for HPV, then you’ll move to 5 year screening.

A new leaflet will be sent out with your cervical screening invitation letter, this can also be found here: Cervical screening: leaflet for women considering screening – GOV.UK

Changes to receiving results

In September, those who have a negative test result will be notified of this by an NHS App message. It will also appear as an NHS App notification. If the NHS App message isn’t read within 72 hours, a letter will be sent as a failsafe.

Abnormal result letters will continue for the time being to be delivered by post.

This change follows the successful rollout of digital invitations and reminders in June 2025, where since the launch, 9 out of every 10 invitations are being sent digitally, with the remainder being sent by post.