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Some of our GP’s may use AI during your consultation. This is an AI Medical Scribe designed to transcribe patient visits into clinical notes. It allows our clinicians to spend more time interacting with patients and improves communication during consultations. Please let the clinician know at the start of your appointment if you do not consent to this.

Changes to Cervical Screening for Ages 25–49: What You Need to Know

What’s Changing?

From 1 July 2025, the routine cervical screening interval will change from every 3 years to every 5 years for women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 49 who test negative for high-risk Human Papilloma Virus (hrHPV) at their screening appointment.

This change only applies to those who attend a cervical screening on or after 1 July 2025 and test negative for hrHPV.

Why Is This Change Happening?

Cervical screening in England now uses a more advanced test called HPV primary screening, which was fully introduced in 2019. This test checks for high-risk types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. It is:

  • More accurate and sensitive than the previous “smear” test
  • Better at identifying people at risk earlier
  • Proven to keep you safe for longer if your result is negative

Because of this, it’s now safe to extend the time between tests to 5 years, as long as no hrHPV is found.

Is It Safe to Wait 5 Years?

Yes. Extensive research shows that people who test negative for hrHPV are extremely unlikely to develop cervical cancer within the next 10 years. A large study in England, led by King’s College London, confirmed that screening every 5 years after a negative hrHPV test is just as safe as screening every 3 years.

This means you get the same level of protection with fewer appointments.

Who Made This Decision?

The change follows a recommendation by the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) after reviewing strong scientific evidence. The Department of Health and Social Care has approved this recommendation.

What Does This Mean for You?

If you’re aged 25–49:

  • You’ll still be invited for cervical screening as usual.
  • If you test negative for hrHPV, your next screening will be in 5 years.
  • If you test positive, you’ll be offered follow-up tests or treatment as needed.

If you’re aged 50–64, nothing changes — you’ll continue to be invited every 5 years.

Why Screening Matters

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme saves thousands of lives each year. It helps prevent cervical cancer by:

  • Detecting hrHPV early
  • Monitoring people at higher risk
  • Treating cell changes before they become cancer

Questions or Concerns?

If you’re unsure about what this change means for you or have questions about your screening history or results, please speak to your nurse.

Stay informed. Stay protected. Attend your screening when invited.