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Cervical Screening Prevention Week: Let's Debunk Myths and Attend Screening

King's College Health Centre

24 Jan 2025

Did you know cervical cancer can be prevented? We sat down with Dr Nighat Arif and Laura Adlington to find out why and debunk misconceptions around cervical screening.

Cervical Screening (which used to be called a smear test) is a free NHS health test that is offered to women and all people with a cervix between the ages of 25 to 64. It helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for human papillomavirus (HPV) which can be passed on through sexual contact.


Currently across London, only 58% of 25 to 49-year-olds attend cervical screening. We have teamed up with GP Dr Nighat and Bake Off Star Laura Adlington in a series of videos discussing the link between sex and cervical cancer and debunking the common misconceptions about cervical screening during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2025.


Some of the commonly asked questions Dr Nighat addressed are:

  • What is cervical screening and who can get it?

  • I only have one sexual partner. Do I still need cervical screening?

  • I am not sexually active so should I attend cervical screening?

  • My screening came back positive for HPV. What does that mean?


Check out the full videos here: Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2025


Don't Miss Out, cervical screening is a life saving test, when invited then please make sure you #AttendScreening


For more, see NHS website: Cervical screening - NHS There is also Mandarin info available: Cervical helping you decide HPV May2019-zho-CN.indd and understanding-cervical-cancer-chinese-traditional



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