adult screening programme

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Cervical cancer

The cervix is the lower part (or neck) of the womb, made of muscle tissue. It is the entrance to the womb from the vagina. In the UK, approximately 3,000 women are diagnosed with cancer of the cervix each year.

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by an infection from certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical screening is estimated to save 4,500 lives in the UK each year.

Read more about cervical cancer on the NHS website.

UK NSC screening recommendation Based on the last UK NSC review of this condition that occurred in March 2025.

Screening for this condition is recommended.

Cervical screening started in England in 1964.

Cervical screening helps prevent cancer by detecting abnormal cells in the cervix that could develop into cancer if left untreated.

The proportion of women attending cervical screening has been declining since 2010 (NHS England cervical screening programme data). Some women leave it a long time after they have been invited, and some women never attend at all. Around a third of women invited do not attend (NHS England cervical screening programme data), meaning the programme does not prevent as many cancers as it could. There are many reasons for this.

Research carried out in North London showed that a small but significant number of women could engage with the programme if they were supported to take their own sample. Consequently, in 2025, the UK NSC recommended adding an offer of self-sampling for HPV for those who delay their attendance by more than 6 months, or who never attend. These ‘under-screened’ people are at higher risk of having, or being affected by, HPV. These women can be offered a self-testing kit or go to primary care for a usual sample taken by a professional.

The UK NSC recommended that local services decide for themselves whether the offer of a self-sample to their populations would be a useful addition to the cervical screening programme.

There is currently not enough UK-based evidence to support offering self-sampling routinely to everyone eligible for the cervical screening programme. To address the uncertainties, more evidence will be gathered through an in-service evaluation of self-sampling in screening services.

Previous programme recommendations

In 2015, the UK NSC recommended screening should be offered to women aged 25 to 64 every 5 years by testing for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Screening aims to detect HPV infection or cervical abnormalities at an early, more treatable stage, in order to reduce the number of people who develop invasive cervical cancer and the number who die from it.

In 2019, the committee recommended stratifying screening by risk by implementing:

  • 12-month surveillance for women who are HPV positive and cytology negative
  • a 12-month recall for women who are HPV positive/cytology negative at their final screen aged 64 (women who are still HPV positive at this follow-up appointment should be referred to colposcopy)

See the impact assessment and equality impact assessment for risk stratification in the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in England.

In 2023, the UK NSC endorsed the use of digital pathology as an alternative option to light microscopy for the review of cervical screening histopathology slides.

Supporting documents from the 2025 review

Evidence review
This document provides the evidence on which the current UK NSC recommendation is based.

Coversheet
This document summarises the review process including the public consultation comments.

Other supporting documents

Supporting documents from the 2019 review

In 2019, the UK NSC recommend screening for this condition.

Cervical 2018 combined
This document provides the evidence on which the current UK NSC recommendation is based.

UK NSC coversheet & consultation responses cervical cancer (2019)
This document summarises the review process including the public consultation comments.

Screening around the UK

The UK NSC recommends screening for this condition, however this may vary slightly depending on where you are in the UK.

Find out more about screening programmes across the UK.

Review cycle

Date previous review completed: 2025

Next review estimated to be completed: 2028 to 2029.

To see previous evidence reviews, visit the UK NSC archive.

Organisations interested in Cervical cancer

These organisations have expressed interest in this recommendation and may submit responses to evidence reviews.

List of organisations

If you think your organisation should be added, please contact us.