Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust has information and resources on the concerns that might prevent anyone with a cervix from taking up their cervical screening opportunity:
• Pain: endometriosis, menopause, vaginismus can add to the discomfort of cervical screening.
• Embarrassment and anxiety
• Screening after sexual violence
• Physical and learning disabilities: concerns around booking, access, stigma, communication with healthcare workers.
Jo’s Trust includes information for Trans and non-binary people including taking control of your appointment.
It comes with a Self-care note: This page talks about cervical screening and genitals. If you find this distressing or triggering, remember to take it at your own pace – you may prefer to read small sections, wait until you feel ready to read it all, or choose not to read it at all.
Macmillan state that 1 in 4 people do not attend their screening appointment.
They understand that it can be embarrassing and daunting, so have put together FAQ’s to answer common issues such as:
• Is cervical screening really necessary?
• What’s the difference between a smear test and cervical screening?
• Does it hurt?