All female patients between the ages of 25 and 64 are invited to attend for a cervical smear every three to five years.  We will generally send you 3 reminder letters when you are due to have your smear.  An appointment can be arranged with a nurse or doctor for your smear test.

Results of smear tests will be posted out to you, usually within one month of your test.

Sometimes you'll be asked to come back in 3 months to have the test again. This does not mean there's anything wrong, it's because the results were unclear. This is sometimes called an inadequate result.

If HPV is found in your smear sample, you may need:

• another cervical screening test in 1 year; this means HPV found, but no abnormal cells

or

• a different test to look at your cervix (a colposcopy); this means HPV found, and abnormal cells

Further information is available at Cervical screening results - NHS - NHS (www.nhs.uk)