If your mental picture of cervical screening is a two-yearly Pap smear, that picture is a decade out of date. The Cervical Screening Test looks for HPV rather than abnormal cells, it is done every five years, and since July 2022 everyone eligible can choose to take the sample themselves.
Who needs cervical screening, and how often
The National Cervical Screening Program recommends a Cervical Screening Test every five years for women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 74 who have ever had any sexual contact.
A few things people are commonly unsure about:
- You still need it if you have had the HPV vaccine. The vaccine protects against most but not all of the HPV types that cause cervical cancer.
- You still need it if you are no longer sexually active, or have only ever had one partner.
- You still need it after menopause, up to age 74.
- You still need it if you are in a same-sex relationship.
- You do not need it if you have had a total hysterectomy — but check with your GP, because it depends on your history and whether any cervix remains.
The five-year interval assumes a negative result. If HPV is found, you will be asked to come back sooner — and that is the system working as designed, not a sign that something is wrong. See our women’s health page.
What the test is actually looking for
The old Pap smear looked down a microscope for cell changes that had already happened. The current test looks for human papillomavirus, the virus that causes almost all cervical cancer, before those cell changes occur.
That is why the interval stretched from two years to five. HPV takes a long time — usually many years — to cause changes that matter, and testing for the cause rather than the consequence catches risk earlier. Where HPV is found, the same sample can be examined for cell changes as well.
HPV is extremely common. Most people who have ever been sexually active will encounter it, and in most cases the immune system clears it without anything happening. A positive HPV result is not a diagnosis of cancer and it is not a comment on anyone’s behaviour.
The self-collection option
Since 1 July 2022, everyone eligible for cervical screening in Australia can choose to collect their own sample. It is not a lesser test — for detecting HPV it performs comparably to a sample collected by a clinician.
How self-collection works
- You still need an appointment. A doctor or nurse practitioner has to request the test.
- You are given a swab and shown what to do, then use a private space at the clinic.
- It is a vaginal swab, not a cervical one — no speculum, no stirrups.
- You insert the swab a few centimetres, rotate it for around 20 to 30 seconds, and place it in the tube.
- It takes a couple of minutes, and no one is watching.
If HPV is found on a self-collected sample, you will usually be asked to come back for a clinician-collected sample or for a referral, because the follow-up test needs cells from the cervix itself. That is a second step, not a failure of the first.
For anyone who has put off screening because of embarrassment, past discomfort, cultural reasons, or a history of trauma, this option exists precisely for you. Say so when you book and we will make sure it is offered.
What the results mean
There are three broad outcomes.
- HPV not detected. Come back in five years. This is the great majority of results.
- HPV detected, types other than 16 or 18. An intermediate-risk result. Usually a repeat test in 12 months to see whether your immune system has cleared it. Most people clear it.
- HPV type 16 or 18 detected. Referral for a colposcopy — a closer look at the cervix by a specialist. This is a precaution, not a diagnosis.
We aim to contact you about your results either way. If you have not heard and you are wondering, call the clinic — chasing a result is always reasonable. See how we handle results.
If you are overdue
Plenty of people are. Screening intervals slipped for a lot of Australians through the pandemic years and never got picked back up.
There is no lecture waiting for you. Book an appointment, mention it is for cervical screening, and say if you would like the self-collection option. The appointment is bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card, and the pathology is collected on site.
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers there is, and Australia is on track to be among the first countries to effectively eliminate it. That only works if people actually screen.
This article is general information for people in the Gosford and Central Coast area. It is not advice about your situation and it does not replace a consultation with your own doctor. If you are worried about a symptom, book an appointment or call us on (02) 4311 3800. In an emergency, call 000.
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