Women’s Health Screening

Cervical screening

Cervical screening is offered to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 to check the health of cells in the cervix. It is offered every 3 years for those aged 25 to 49, and every 5 years from the ages of 50 to 64.

Breast screening

Breast screening is offered to women aged 50 to 70 to detect early signs of breast cancer. Women over 70 can self-refer.

Bowel cancer screening

Everyone aged 60 to 74 is offered a bowel cancer screening home test kit every 2 years.

If you’re 75 or over, you can ask for a kit every 2 years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.

Screening in pregnancy

The screening tests offered in pregnancy are:

• screening for infectious diseases (hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis)
• screening for Down’s syndrome, Patau’s syndrome and Edwards’ syndrome
• screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia
• screening to check the physical development of the baby (known as the 20-week scan or mid-pregnancy scan)
• diabetic eye screening if you are pregnant and have type 1 or type 2 diabetes

For more information on NHS Screening please click here