Further Changes to Cervical Screening Programme

From 1 July 2025, routine cervical screening intervals will be extended from 3 to 5 years for participants aged 25-49 who test negative after attending cervical screening on or after this date.

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme saves thousands of lives every year by checking for high-risk Human Papilloma Virus (hrHPV) which causes almost all cervical cancers. In England, women and people with a cervix are currently invited every 3 years between the
ages of 25-49 and every 5 years if aged 50-64 years.

In December 2019, HPV primary screening was fully implemented in England. This is a more sensitive and accurate test than the previous ‘smear’ test, which only looked for cervical cell changes. HPV testing is the best way to find out at an early stage who is at higher risk of developing the cervical cell changes that over time could potentially lead to cervical cancer if left untreated.

Studies have shown that if a person tests negative for hrHPV they are extremely unlikely to go on to develop cervical cancer within the next 10 years. A study in England, published by King’s College London, showed that 5-year screening intervals are as safe as 3-year intervals; the same number of cancers will be prevented and less frequent cervical screening tests are needed.

This interval change will only take effect after a patient’s next scheduled cervical screening. Furthermore, there will be no change to interval for those patient’s testing positive for HPV. Where there are no cell changes, they will be invited for screening again in 1 year. If cell changes are found alongside a positive HPV test, they will be referred directly to a hospital clinic for a colposcopy to check the cervix more closely. An individual will only move onto a 5 year screening interval after this when they meet the clinical criteria.