Cervical screening for women who have experienced sexual assault | NHS

What is a cervical screening?

A cervical screening is a health check-up. It looks for changes in the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the womb. This check-up helps to keep you healthy.

If you have questions or feel scared, it is okay to ask for help. You can talk to a doctor or a nurse. They will explain everything to you.

Here are some things that can help:

• Bring a trusted friend or family member with you.
• Ask the doctor or nurse any questions you have.
• Take deep breaths to help you relax.

How often should I get a cervical screening?

A cervical screening is a health check for your cervix. Your cervix is the lower part of your belly where it connects to your private parts.

This check helps keep you healthy by finding any problems early.

You should get a cervical screening every few years. How often you get it can depend on your age and where you live. Your doctor or nurse can tell you what is best for you.

To remember when to get your check, you can write it on a calendar or set a reminder on your phone.

If reading is hard, you can ask someone you trust to read or explain it to you.

Can I decide not to have a cervical screening test?

Yes, you can decide not to have the test if you don't want to.

Cervical screening is a test that checks for healthy cells in the neck of the womb. It can help find problems early. But it is your choice. You can say "No" if you do not want it.

If you are unsure, talk to a doctor or nurse. They can help you understand the test.

You can also ask someone you trust for help to make your choice.

How does sexual assault impact cervical screening?

Sexual assault is when someone touches you in a wrong way or forces you to do something. This can make going to a doctor scary. Some people might feel upset or worried about having a cervical screening test.

A cervical screening is a test to check if your cervix is healthy. The cervix is a part of the body. Doctors do the test to make sure you are healthy and well.

If sexual assault happened to you, it is okay to feel nervous or scared about the test. Here are some things that might help:

• Tell the doctor about your feelings. They can help you feel more comfortable.
• Bring a friend or family member with you if it makes you feel safe.
• Ask the doctor to explain the test step by step.
• Remember, you can always say "stop" if you feel uncomfortable.

It is important to look after your health. You can talk to someone you trust if you have questions or feel worried.

Can I talk to my doctor about being hurt in the past before a cervical screening?

It is okay to talk to your doctor if you were hurt or scared by someone before. This can help you feel better and safer. You can tell your doctor before you have a cervical screening.

Here are some things you can do:

• Write down what you want to say before you talk to your doctor. This can help you remember.
• Bring a friend or family member with you for support.
• Ask your doctor to explain things slowly or in a different way if you do not understand.

Your doctor is there to help you and keep you safe.

Is there special help for women who have been hurt during a cervical screening?

If a woman has been hurt or attacked, she can get special help during her cervical screening.

Doctors and nurses want to make sure she feels safe and comfortable.

It is important to talk to the doctor or nurse before the screening if she needs extra help or support.

Some things that can help include:

• Bringing a friend or family member to the appointment
• Asking for a female doctor or nurse
• Telling the doctor or nurse about any worries or fears
• Taking breaks during the screening if needed

These steps can make the screening easier and more comfortable.

Can I bring a friend to help me during the check-up?

What should I do if I feel upset or scared during the check-up?

If you feel upset, scared, or not okay during the check-up, you can do these things:

• Tell the doctor or nurse right away. They are there to help you.
• You can ask for a break if you need to relax.
• Bring a friend or family member with you to feel better.
• Ask questions if you do not understand what is happening.

Remember, it is okay to say how you feel. The check-up is to help you.

Can you have a cervical screening while you are asleep?

You can have a cervical screening when you are asleep. This means you would not feel anything during the test.

Talk to your doctor or nurse if you want this. They can tell you more and help you decide.

Here are some helpful things you can do:

• Ask a friend or family member to come with you.
• Use pictures or stories to help understand the test.
• Write down any questions you have.

Will my sexual assault history stay private?

If you tell someone about a sexual assault, they should keep it private. This means they do not tell other people unless they have to for safety.

If you need help, you can talk to a trusted person. They can be a family member, a doctor, or a support worker. They can help keep things private and explain things to you.

You can also use tools to help you feel safe, like writing down your feelings in a diary or talking to a support hotline.

Can I ask to see a female doctor or nurse for my cervical screening?

Yes, you can ask to see a female doctor or nurse when you have your cervical screening. This is your right, and it can help you feel more comfortable.

Here are some tips to help you:

• Call the clinic or doctor's office before your appointment. Tell them you would like to see a female doctor or nurse.
• Use simple words to explain why you feel more at ease with a female healthcare professional.
• If you need help, ask a family member, friend, or support worker to talk to the clinic for you.

Remember, it is important to feel safe and comfortable during your cervical screening.

How can I get ready for my cervical screening?

Getting ready for a cervical screening is important. Here are some simple steps:

• Pick a day that feels good for you and when you are not on your period.
• Wear something easy and comfortable.
• If you feel nervous, talk to someone you trust or a doctor.
• Ask the nurse or doctor any questions you have. They are there to help!

If reading is hard, ask someone to help read or explain the words. You can also use tools like audiobooks or apps that read text out loud.

What if doctors find cells that are not normal?

Can I say no to some parts of the test?

Are there other ways to do cervical screening?

Cervical screening is a test that checks the health of your cervix. There are some different ways to do this test.

Here are some other ways:

• Self-sampling: You can use a special kit to take a sample at home. Then, you send it to the lab.
• HPV testing: This checks for a virus that can cause changes in your cervix. It is often done with the normal test but can be done differently too.

If you find cervical screening hard, you can ask for help. Talk to your doctor or nurse. They can explain and help you understand what will happen. Remember, cervical screening is important for your health.

What is a cervical screening?

A cervical screening is a health check-up. It looks for changes in the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the womb. This check-up helps to keep you healthy.

If you have questions or feel scared, it is okay to ask for help. You can talk to a doctor or a nurse. They will explain everything to you.

Here are some things that can help:

• Bring a trusted friend or family member with you.
• Ask the doctor or nurse any questions you have.
• Take deep breaths to help you relax.

How often should I get a cervical screening?

A cervical screening is a health check for your cervix. Your cervix is the lower part of your belly where it connects to your private parts.

This check helps keep you healthy by finding any problems early.

You should get a cervical screening every few years. How often you get it can depend on your age and where you live. Your doctor or nurse can tell you what is best for you.

To remember when to get your check, you can write it on a calendar or set a reminder on your phone.

If reading is hard, you can ask someone you trust to read or explain it to you.

Can I decide not to have a cervical screening test?

Yes, you can decide not to have the test if you don't want to.

Cervical screening is a test that checks for healthy cells in the neck of the womb. It can help find problems early. But it is your choice. You can say "No" if you do not want it.

If you are unsure, talk to a doctor or nurse. They can help you understand the test.

You can also ask someone you trust for help to make your choice.

How does sexual assault impact cervical screening?

Sexual assault is when someone touches you in a wrong way or forces you to do something. This can make going to a doctor scary. Some people might feel upset or worried about having a cervical screening test.

A cervical screening is a test to check if your cervix is healthy. The cervix is a part of the body. Doctors do the test to make sure you are healthy and well.

If sexual assault happened to you, it is okay to feel nervous or scared about the test. Here are some things that might help:

• Tell the doctor about your feelings. They can help you feel more comfortable.
• Bring a friend or family member with you if it makes you feel safe.
• Ask the doctor to explain the test step by step.
• Remember, you can always say "stop" if you feel uncomfortable.

It is important to look after your health. You can talk to someone you trust if you have questions or feel worried.

Can I talk to my doctor about being hurt in the past before a cervical screening?

It is okay to talk to your doctor if you were hurt or scared by someone before. This can help you feel better and safer. You can tell your doctor before you have a cervical screening.

Here are some things you can do:

• Write down what you want to say before you talk to your doctor. This can help you remember.
• Bring a friend or family member with you for support.
• Ask your doctor to explain things slowly or in a different way if you do not understand.

Your doctor is there to help you and keep you safe.

Is there special help for women who have been hurt during a cervical screening?

If a woman has been hurt or attacked, she can get special help during her cervical screening.

Doctors and nurses want to make sure she feels safe and comfortable.

It is important to talk to the doctor or nurse before the screening if she needs extra help or support.

Some things that can help include:

• Bringing a friend or family member to the appointment
• Asking for a female doctor or nurse
• Telling the doctor or nurse about any worries or fears
• Taking breaks during the screening if needed

These steps can make the screening easier and more comfortable.

Can I bring a friend to help me during the check-up?

What should I do if I feel upset or scared during the check-up?

If you feel upset, scared, or not okay during the check-up, you can do these things:

• Tell the doctor or nurse right away. They are there to help you.
• You can ask for a break if you need to relax.
• Bring a friend or family member with you to feel better.
• Ask questions if you do not understand what is happening.

Remember, it is okay to say how you feel. The check-up is to help you.

Can you have a cervical screening while you are asleep?

You can have a cervical screening when you are asleep. This means you would not feel anything during the test.

Talk to your doctor or nurse if you want this. They can tell you more and help you decide.

Here are some helpful things you can do:

• Ask a friend or family member to come with you.
• Use pictures or stories to help understand the test.
• Write down any questions you have.

Will my sexual assault history stay private?

If you tell someone about a sexual assault, they should keep it private. This means they do not tell other people unless they have to for safety.

If you need help, you can talk to a trusted person. They can be a family member, a doctor, or a support worker. They can help keep things private and explain things to you.

You can also use tools to help you feel safe, like writing down your feelings in a diary or talking to a support hotline.

Can I ask to see a female doctor or nurse for my cervical screening?

Yes, you can ask to see a female doctor or nurse when you have your cervical screening. This is your right, and it can help you feel more comfortable.

Here are some tips to help you:

• Call the clinic or doctor's office before your appointment. Tell them you would like to see a female doctor or nurse.
• Use simple words to explain why you feel more at ease with a female healthcare professional.
• If you need help, ask a family member, friend, or support worker to talk to the clinic for you.

Remember, it is important to feel safe and comfortable during your cervical screening.

How can I get ready for my cervical screening?

Getting ready for a cervical screening is important. Here are some simple steps:

• Pick a day that feels good for you and when you are not on your period.
• Wear something easy and comfortable.
• If you feel nervous, talk to someone you trust or a doctor.
• Ask the nurse or doctor any questions you have. They are there to help!

If reading is hard, ask someone to help read or explain the words. You can also use tools like audiobooks or apps that read text out loud.

What if doctors find cells that are not normal?

Can I say no to some parts of the test?

Are there other ways to do cervical screening?

Cervical screening is a test that checks the health of your cervix. There are some different ways to do this test.

Here are some other ways:

• Self-sampling: You can use a special kit to take a sample at home. Then, you send it to the lab.
• HPV testing: This checks for a virus that can cause changes in your cervix. It is often done with the normal test but can be done differently too.

If you find cervical screening hard, you can ask for help. Talk to your doctor or nurse. They can explain and help you understand what will happen. Remember, cervical screening is important for your health.