Ok, it may be old but this headline strikes me as…sort of wrong. Bearing in mind that most cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV which is often contracted through sexual activity…? I don’t know.
I suppose it is good because I’m sure some young people like the Sugababes and may be encouraged to go get smears because of this, but what’s the point when the age woman in England are invited for their first smear is 25?! 25 is ridiculous, I’ve obviously had these abnormal cells for a while, I had a smear at 20 and I didn’t go back for seven years!
Speaking of which, this is the petition to lower the age in the England to 20 so we’re in line with Scotland and Wales.
However, for fairness sake, this is the reason why it’s set at 25:
Why isn’t cervical screening offered to women who are under 25?
‘Cervical screening in women aged 20-24 is substantially less effective in preventing cancer (and in preventing advanced stage tumours) than is screening in older women’
‘Cervical screening in women aged 20-24 is substantially less effective in preventing cancer (and in preventing advanced stage tumours) than is screening in older women’
A research paper, Sasieni P, Castañón A, Cuzick J. Effectiveness of cervical screening with age: population based case-control study of prospectively recorded data. BMJ 2009; 339:b2968, focusing on women screened under the age of 25 was published in the BMJ. It stated:
This is because changes in the young cervix are normal. If they were thought to be abnormal this could lead to unnecessary treatment which could have consequences for women’s childbearing. Any abnormal changes can be easily picked up and treated from the age of 25. Rarely, younger women experience symptoms such as unexpected bleeding or bleeding after intercourse. If this happens to you, then please see your GP for advice.
Let's get cervical 