Many of my readers ask me about how often a woman over 50 should have a Pap smear. Here is the short version for England. The NHS invites women aged between 50 and 64 for cervical screening every 5 years. Most people are no longer invited at 65 if recent tests are normal. If your sample shows you have HPV, you may be called back sooner. Just a quick word on terminology. "Pap smear" is the US term. In the UK, the same test is called cervical screening, or smear test, and looks

Cervical screening is responsible for thousands of lives saved each year in the UK. The smear test (now more widely known as cervical screening) is used to detect any cell changes before they can become more serious. If you've received your invitation letter or have any questions about the procedure, we explain everything you need to know below. Understanding Cervical Screening Cervical screening tests the health of your cervix, which is the lower part of your uterus. The tes