No, HPV is a virus so if you do have an HPV infection, it will be in the whole area inside your vagina.
Most women don't find it painful. Women who have taken self-samples in our previous studies have not reported any particular problems. Feedback from women is that they find the test easy and convenient to do.
If you have followed the instructions, you can rest assured that you have almost certainly taken the sample correctly. We know that women can take good quality samples themselves.
It is best if you wait until your period has finished.
If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, please do not use your YouScreen kit. The usual advice for pregnant women is to wait 12 weeks after your baby is born to have cervical screening.
If you have any questions, speak to your GP.
You are at very low risk of having a cervical abnormality. It's up to you.
If you have ever been sexually active, you are still at risk of having a cervical abnormality even if you are not currently sexually active or haven't been sexually active for a long time.
Yes. Even if you have had the HPV vaccine you should attend for cervical screening.
The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause around 70% of cervical cancers. It does not protect you against all types of HPV.
The HPV vaccine works best if you have it before you are exposed to the virus. If you have already been exposed to HPV through sexual activity before getting the vaccine, your protection from the vaccine may be reduced.
The NHS Cervical Screening Programme recommends that you should still have a cervical screening test in this country, even if you've had one elsewhere.
No, your next cervical screening due date will be calculated based on the result of your self-sample (3 or 5 years depending on your age).
If you would prefer to have a sample taken by your GP you should not return the self-sample at all but contact your GP practice to book a smear test.
If you give consent by writing your initials in the box on your lab consent form, the lab will keep your leftover sample with your personal details removed and send it to a research tissue bank at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust for indefinite storage.
Your leftover sample may be used for future ethically approved tests related to HPV which could help improve cervical screening in the future. Future tests will not have an impact on your health or healthcare and will be carried out without your personal details.
If you do not want your leftover sample to be kept, do not write your initials in the box on the lab consent form. If do not write your initials in this box, the lab staff will destroy your sample once they have tested it for HPV.
If you move to a new address, please make sure you let your GP know your new address as soon as possible so that any results letters can reach you.
There are lots of reasons why women can find it hard to go for cervical screening. We also recognise that cervical screening can be triggering for women who have experienced a range of issues including, sexual violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) or domestic violence. We take these issues very seriously. Support and advice are available via the YouScreen Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust freephone helpline at 0808 801 0408.
Information and support can also be found here:
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/get-support
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening/cervical-screening-after-sexual-violence
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening/cervical-screening-learning-disability
