Cervical Screening Facts

Screening and immunisation are the most effective protection against cervical cancer

Screening for cervical cancer has now changed to a vaginal swab as the first test to identify if the HPV virus is present.

Who is Eligibile?

Wāhine/women and all people with a cervix aged 25 to 69 who have had intimate skin-to-skin contact, or any sexual activity, no matter their sexual orientation, are encouraged to participate in the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP).

What are the new options for testing?

In the National Cervical Screening Programme, most people can choose how their test is done. The 3 options are:

1.        A self-test swab sample taken from the vagina (not the cervix) which is tested for HPV. (A self-taken vaginal swab is just as good as a clinician-taken sample for detecting HPV.)

2.        A clinician-taken vaginal swab sample which is tested for HPV, or 

3.        A clinician-taken cell sample from the cervix, (previously referred to as a smear test), which is tested for HPV. This option also allows for a cytology test to be done if HPV is detected, without needing to return for a further test. Note that approximately 10% of HPV swabs will be positive and will require a follow-up cytology test.

Self-testing is not appropriate for everyone (for example, people who have symptoms or require a follow-up test after treatment). 

You must see your doctor if you have:

• bleeding between menstrual periods
• bleeding after sexual intercourse
• bleeding after menstrual periods have stopped (menopause)
• unusual discharge from your vagina
• persistent pain in your pelvis

• pain during sexual intercourse.

These symptoms can occur for many reasons, but they should always be checked out.

How often does screening occur under the new test?

If no HPV is detected screening will be at a 5-yearly interval. People who are immune deficient are at a higher risk of developing cervical cell changes so are recommended to have 3-yearly screening. 

What about funding?

The NCSP is not a fully-funded screening programme. Most participants will pay a fee for the service provided. This will be a usual doctor charge for a GP consult or a nurse charge (to be decided).

Some funding is available for free screening:

• All Māori wāhine and people with a cervix aged 25 to 69 years.
• All Pacific women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 69 years.
• All women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 69 years who hold a Community Services Card - Check your eligibility for a CSC
• All women and people with a cervix aged 30 years and over who are un-screened. (This includes women and people with a cervix aged 70 to 74 years who have never been screened.)
• All women and people with a cervix aged 30 years and over who are underscreened (i.e., it has been five years or more since their last cytology, OR seven years or more since their last HPV test).
• Women and people with a cervix aged 70 to 74 years who have not had: two consecutive normal cervical cytology results between 62 to 69 years, OR a ‘HPV not detected’ result in the five years prior to age 70.
• Follow-up testing is free for everyone, regardless of their eligibility for free routine screening.

Links:

Te Whatu Ora information on HPV Primary Screening 

Cervical Screening Self Test

Did you know that ...

• Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable of all cancers.

• Cervical cancer is caused by certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common virus passed on by intimate skin to skin contact.

• Most people will come into contact with HPV at some stage during their life. Most HPV infections clear by themselves, but some high-risk types can cause cell changes on the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer 10 to 20 years after infection. Other types can cause genital warts, but these strains do not lead to cancer.

• The HPV test is a better first screening test than the previous cytology test. It is very sensitive in finding the virus that causes the cell changes. If you don’t have HPV your risk of developing cell changes that may cause cancer within 5 years is very low. 

• Immunisation is available to protect against 9 common types of HPV, 7 of which can lead to cervical cancer. Types 16 and 18 cause around 70 percent of cervical cancer.

• The vaccine does not protect against all HPV types; therefore, people with a cervix who have been immunised must still continue to have smear tests.

• A person's best protection against developing cervical cancer is having regular cervical cancer screening tests. Having regular cervical screening can reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer by 90 percent.