Answer

Ellie should try to rearrange her appointment, as cervical cytology – often referred to as a smear test – requires enough cells from the neck of the uterus to be collected and examined under a microscope in order to see if any are abnormal and potentially cancerous. The general advice is for women to book an appointment for around 10-14 days after the first day of their period, and to avoid sexual intercourse and any vaginal products for 48 hours before the test so that the sample is as clear as possible.

Under the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, all women aged 25-64 in the UK who are registered with a GP automatically receive a screening invitation letter at the appropriate time. The reason that women younger than this are not called is not only because cervical cancer is extremely rare in the under 25s, but also because cervical cell changes are very common in this age group. This means there is a high chance of an abnormal result, which can cause anxiety and increases the chance of further treatment, which is not usually necessary because the changes to the cells usually resolve spontaneously. This also, in turn, increases the risk of the women experiencing premature birth later
in life.

The most common sign of cervical cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding, though this is more commonly due to another issue such as a cervical erosion which stems from changing hormone levels, is harmless, and usually gets better without any treatment. Other possible cancer symptoms are discomfort during sex, pelvic pain and unpleasant vaginal discharge, though, again, these may be the result of another condition. In many cases, the lone sign of early-stage cervical cancer is cell changes, which can only be picked up by screening.