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Cervical screening

Whakamātautau waha kōpū

 

Cervical Screening is part of the national screening programme in New Zealand.

Your cervix is the opening to your uterus (womb) at the top of your vagina. Cervical screening can find early changes in your cervix that can be treated before they progress to cervical cancer.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is the main cause of cervical cancer.

Cervical screening has changed to become a test for HPV. There are 3 ways of doing the test. You can take a swab from your vagina yourself. A healthcare provider can take the swab. Or a healthcare provider can take a cervical sample (previously called a smear).

If the test shows you have HPV, you will need to have follow-up testing.

Most people will need screening every 5 years.

People who should have screening tests

Cervical screening is recommended if you:

• are a woman, transgender or non-binary person (of any sexual orientation) with a cervix
• are aged between 25 and 69 and have ever had any sexual contact (including oral sex).

You should have cervical screening even if you:

• are immunised against HPV
• are single
• only have sex with women
• have a disability
• have been through menopause
• are no longer having sex.

If you are aged between 70 and 74 and have not had a normal cervical screen since the age of 65, you will be offered screening.

If you have had a hysterectomy (your womb has been removed), talk to your healthcare provider about what screening is right for you.

Screening frequency

Cervical screening used to be done every 3 years. But the new HPV test is a better screening test, so it is safe to have a longer gap between tests.

Most people will need cervical screening every 5 years. If you have a weak immune system (immunocompromised), you will need screening every 3 years.

If you have an abnormal test, you may need screening more often.

How the test is done

The test can now be done 1 of 3 ways.

• You may be able to do your own vaginal swab at your healthcare provider’s clinic or surgery or in an approved community setting. They will send the swab off to be tested for HPV.
• Your healthcare provider can do the vaginal swab for you during an appointment.
• You can have a healthcare provider take a sample of cells from your cervix (cervical sample test). If the sample tests positive for HPV, a cytology (cell) test can then be done without you needing to go in for a follow-up test.

Vaginal swab

A vaginal swab is taken in a similar way to swabs taken for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The vaginal swab is similar to a cotton bud. It needs to be inserted into your vagina and rotated a few times before going into a tube and being sent to the lab. Many women find the swab test much easier than a cervical sample test.

See Doing a vaginal swab for videos with details of how to do the self-test in English, Te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. Videos are also available for Pacific and Rainbow communities.

Cervical sample

A cervical sample only takes a few minutes. Some people find it a bit uncomfortable, but it should not hurt. During the test, a doctor or nurse puts an instrument called a speculum into your vagina so they can see your cervix. They use a small soft brush to pick up a few cells from the surface of your cervix, which they then send to the laboratory to be tested.

Costs

Free screening is available for:

• women and people with a cervix who are 30 or older and have never had a screening test or have not had a test in the last 5 years
• anyone needing a follow-up test
• Māori and Pacific people
• Community Services Card holders.

Where to get screened

You can get screened wherever is most convenient and comfortable for you. Your choices are:

• your usual doctor or nurse at your general practice
• Māori, Pacific, women's or community health centres
• outreach services, like marae or mobile health units
• Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa Clinics.

Wherever you choose, all screen-takers are specially trained to make sure the test is comfortable and meets your rights as a patient.

The National Screening Unit can help you find someone to do your test. Call the unit on freephone 0800-729-729.

Results

Results usually take about 1 to 2 weeks. Your healthcare provider will tell you how you will get your results and if any follow-up is needed.

See Understanding your cervical screening results for more information about screening results.

Even if you have a normal screening test, see your healthcare provider if you have bleeding after sex, bleeding between your periods or a vaginal discharge.

  HealthInfo recommends the following videos

• Health Information and Services – Doing a vaginal swab

  Videos with details of how to do the self-test in English, Te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. Videos are also available for Pacific and Rainbow communities.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Health Information and Services – Cervical screening

  Information about the cervical screening. Includes where to go for your screening and what your results mean. Phone 0800-729-729 for more information.

On the next page: Follow up after an abnormal cervical screening result

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed January 2025.

Sources

Page reference: 41513

Review key: HICES-20461