Cervical screening was introduced in the UK in the 1980s and despite its success rate in detecting cervical cancer, many women still do not attend. There are lots of reasons why women do not attend but it’s thought that the main reason is embarrassment.

The so called ‘Jade Goody effect’ is reportedly over with cervical screening being at its lowest for 20 years and one in four women not attending when invited.

As women we will face lots of challenges in our lives and for many of us this will include childbirth (which can erase any form of dignity you may have previously had). Cervical screening should not be one of these challenges.

There are many types of cancer that remain undetectable, and undiagnosed until it is sadly too late; but having a smear test can prevent 75% of cervical cancers. This is only possible through years of medical and scientific research; we cannot let all of that hard work go to waste.

If you are of the age where you can remember the metal speculum then you will be pleased to hear that these are no longer used and have been replaced with much more comfortable plastic equivalents. The nurses conduct hundreds of these tests each year and will have seen women of all shapes and sizes. They are not judging you and are doing their job which in fact could save your life. The test takes 2 minutes and the chances are that you would not have to go through it again for another 3-5 years (depending on your age).

Life is precious and you only get one chance, so don’t let cervical screening be a challenge or let embarrassment get in the way. Book yours today.

All women who are registered with a GP are invited for cervical screening:

• aged 25 to 49 – every 3 years
• aged 50 to 64 – every 5 years
• over 65 – only women who haven’t been screened since age 50 or those who have recently had abnormal tests

The Clinical Negligence department at Lamb Brooks Solicitors in Basingstoke has experience dealing with claims for the delay of diagnosis of cervical cancer and other forms of cancer. For further information please do not hesitate to contact Clare Galvani, Litigation Executive on 01256 305564 or email clare.galvani@lambbrooks.com.

The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice. The law may have changed since this article was published. Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.