Closed petition Lower the age you are offered a cervical screening (smear test) from 25 to 16

I would like women to be offered a smear test from the age of 16 in the UK instead of having to wait until you are 25.

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Many women have signs of cervical cancer but are not offered a smear test until they are 25 years old. I believe you should be offered a smear test from the age of 16 as this is when you are legally allowed to be sexually active.

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Government responded

This response was given on 12 January 2021

In line with recommendations from the World Health Organization and UK National Screening Committee, cervical screening is not offered to women under 25 because it can cause more harm than benefit.

Read the response in full

Cervical screening is vital in the early detection of cervical abnormalities that could cause cancer. The NHS cervical screening programme saves an estimated 5,000 lives per year, and is a key part of the Government’s commitment in the NHS Long Term Plan to detect 75% of cancers at stage 1 or 2, and for 55,000 more people to survive cancer for five years in England each year from 2028. Routine cervical screening is only offered to women between the ages of 25 and 64 in England because screening beyond this age range can cause more harm than good. However, anyone of any age worried about cervical cancer or who notices any symptoms should not wait for a routine screening appointment and see their GP as soon as possible.

Screening programmes and policy are based on the advice of the United Kingdom National Screening Committee (UK NSC). Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.

The UK NSC carefully weighs up the harms and benefits when recommending a new screening programme, or a modification to an existing one. It is only where the offer to screen provides more benefit than harm that a screening programme is recommended.
The UK NSC looked at the evidence for the age at which cervical screening is first offered in 2012. It found that screening women under the age of 25 causes more harm than good.

This is because cervical screening doesn’t test for cancer, but for the human papillomavirus (HPV) and abnormal cells which, if left untreated, can develop into cancer. These abnormal cells are very common in younger women, and in the vast majority of cases will resolve with no intervention required. As changes are very common in a young woman’s cervix, women screened twice (at 20 and 23) before the age of 25 have a 1 in 3 risk of having an abnormal test result (on at least one occasion) and a 1 in 20 chance of being treated.

Research shows that an abnormal test result and unnecessary treatment can lead to significant anxiety for this substantial group of women. Follow up investigations can also be harmful, including the risk of women subsequently suffering premature labour.

You can read more about the UK NSC’s research and recommendations here: https://legacyscreening.phe.org.uk/cervicalcancer, https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20150401104305/http://www.screening.nhs.uk/cervicalcancer

Following the 2012 recommendation a frequently asked questions document was developed to help answer some common questions about the decision. This can be found at: https://legacyscreening.phe.org.uk/cervicalcancer-qa

The UK NSC regularly reviews the evidence for screening programmes to take into account the changing factors that can influence a programme, such as new screening technologies, and will change its recommendations if necessary.

Because almost all cervical cancer is caused by HPV, another important facet of preventing cervical cancer is vaccinating against this virus. The HPV vaccination programme reduces the incidence of HPV infection circulating in the population by vaccinating girls and young women, thereby preventing cervical cancer related to HPV infection. The first dose is offered in school year 8 in England and Wales to girls 12-13 years old.

The vaccine has led to a dramatic reduction in HPV infection in young women in England, and will reduce the risk of cervical cancer in this population. The incidence of HPV infections in sexually active women aged 16-18 years fell from 17.6% prior to the immunisation programme in 2008 to 4% in the period 4-5 years post vaccination.

HPV circulation is further decreased by offering the HPV vaccine to boys. From September 2019, boys in school year 8 have also been offered the HPV vaccine.

A sustained programme of HPV vaccination is eventually expected to save over 300 lives a year and prevent precancerous lesions in girls that require invasive treatment and can cause significant distress. Modelling produced by the University of Warwick estimates that by 2058 the HPV vaccine currently being used may have prevented up to 64,138 HPV-related cervical cancers and 49,649 other HPV-related cancers in the UK. Further information on this can be found at; https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hpv-vaccine-could-prevent-over-100-000-cancers.

With this vaccination offer and the potential harms of screening women younger than 25, there is little evidence in favour of lowering the age of cervical screening. Even though the screening programme only applies to women between the ages of 25 and 64, it is important however that all women should be vigilant of the symptoms of cervical cancer. Women of any age should see their GP if they are worried and not wait for a cervical screening appointment. Symptoms include bleeding between periods, during or after sex, or after you have been through the menopause, and unusual vaginal discharge.

Department of Health and Social Care

Government launches public survey on a new Women's Health Strategy

The Government has launched a public survey, to help decide on what should be included in its new Women’s Health Strategy for England.

They want to hear from women of all ages and backgrounds about their healthcare experiences. This will help the Government consider possible changes to NHS services.

The survey is open to anyone aged 16 or over.

Share your experiences with the Government here, by 30 May:
https://consultations.dhsc.gov.uk/talkwomenshealth

Specifically, the Government wants to hear views on the following themes:

  1. Placing women’s voices at the centre of their health and care
  2. Improving the quality and accessibility of information and education on women’s health
  3. Ensuring the health and care system understands and is responsive to women’s health and care needs across the life course
  4. Maximising women’s health in the workplace
  5. Ensuring research, evidence and data support improvements in women’s health
  6. Understanding and responding to the impacts of COVID-19 on women’s health

Find out more about the Strategy, and the issues the Government wants to hear about in its survey, here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-call-for-evidence-to-improve-health-and-wellbeing-of-women-in-england

Read the full Call for Evidence here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/womens-health-strategy-call-for-evidence

What is the Women's Health Strategy?

The Government has promised to develop a new Women's Health Strategy. The Strategy will aim to improve the health and wellbeing of women across England, and ensure NHS services in England are meeting women's needs.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, health services are the responsibility of the devolved Governments, so the Strategy will only apply to England.

Who is running the consultation?

The consultation is being run by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Government Department responsible for the NHS and oversight of social care in England.

Find out more about DHSC:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care

MPs hold inquiry into cancer services in England

The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee is holding an inquiry into why cancer outcomes in England continue to lag behind comparable countries internationally. The Committee is examining evidence relating to the underlying causes of these differences.

The Committee is also considering what impact disruption to cancer services during the covid-19 pandemic have had on efforts to catch up, and whether the ambitions set out in the NHS Long Term Plan will help close the gap with the best performing countries worldwide.

Read about the inquiry here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/1377/cancer-services/news/156443/mps-seek-evidence-on-why-england-lags-behind-in-cancer-survival/

You can find future announcements about the inquiry here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/1377/cancer-services/

The submission period for written evidence for this inquiry has now passed, but you can view submitted written evidence here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/1377/cancer-services/publications/

We’re letting you know about this inquiry because you signed a petition calling on the Government to lower the age you are offered a cervical screening, and we thought this inquiry may be of interest to you.

What is the Health and Social Care Committee?

The Health and Social Care Committee scrutinises the work of the Department of Health and Social Care and its associated public bodies. It examines government policy, spending and administration on behalf of the electorate and the House of Commons. It's a cross-party committee and is independent of the Government.

Find out more on their website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/81/health-and-social-care-committee/

You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/CommonsHealth

This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

You can also sign up to the UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/your-uk-parliament-newsletter-sign-up-form/