Diagnostic Tests
Cervical smears
The cervical smear test is designed to pick up minor changes before any serious problems develop. One in twelve smears is abnormal, so it is not uncommon to have an abnormal result. It is extremely rare for any abnormality to be cancer.
Nearly all abnormal smears show no more than minor changes in cells on the cervix (the neck of the womb). However it is important to act on these early warning signs and manage the minor changes appropriately. It is extremely rare for a woman to develop cancer if they have regular smears and colposcopy when appropriate. If you think you need a smear test, please contact 132 Healthwise.