Women want cervical screening to be done at home to avoid the embarrassment of having an intimate test in a clinic, study reveals By Shaun Wooller For The Daily Mail Published: 19:05 EDT, 15 September 2024 | Updated: 19:25 EDT, 15 September 2024 e-mail View comments Most women support the rollout of at-home cervical screening to overcome the embarrassment of having the intimate test in a clinic, a study has revealed. The NHS offers cervical screening tests – previously known as smear tests – to all women aged 25 to 64 every three years. But almost a third of eligible women in England did not take up the offer in 2023, with many citing a lack of time or worries about discomfort and embarrassment.
The test involves using a vaginal swab – similar to a long cotton bud – to take a sample of cells in the cervix. It is usually performed at a GP practice and looks for traces of human papillomavirus ( HPV ) – a virus linked to cervical cancer , of which there are 3,300 new cases in the UK each year. Healthwatch England is now calling for NHS officials to offer DIY kits to those who would prefer it, pending ongoing reviews of the tests.
Women want cervical screening to be done at home to avoid the embarassment of having intimate tests at clinics (file image) Almost a third of women eligible for NHS cervical screening tests did not take them up in 2023, with lack of time and concerns over discomfort and embarrassment among reasons given The patient watchdog said its poll of .