More accurate human papillomavirus (HPV) testing will enable millions of women and people with a cervix in England to benefit from more personalised cervical screening from next month.

From 1 July, younger women and people with a cervix (aged 25 to 49) who test negative for HPV, meaning they are at very low risk of cervical cancer over the next 10 years, will safely be invited at 5-year intervals rather than 3-year intervals, in line with major clinical evidence.

Those whose sample indicates the presence of HPV or who have a recent history of HPV, which causes nearly all cervical cancers, will continue to be invited to more frequent screenings to check HPV has cleared and if not, if any cell changes have developed.

The move follows a recommendation by the UK National Screening Committee, and is the approach already used for women aged 50 to 64 in England. The move to 5-year intervals brings England into line with Scotland and Wales, who have introduced this change following the UK National Screening Committee’s (UKNSC’s) recommendation.

Since December 2019, all cervical screening samples taken in England have been tested for high-risk HPV, which is more accurate than the previous method of cytology testing (known as a ‘smear test’).

The presence of HPV does not mean that you have or will develop cervical cancer. It is a common virus that most people will have at some point in their life without knowing, which usually goes away on its own. If HPV is found in your sample and there are no cell changes, you are invited for screening again in 1 year.

If HPV is found alongside cell changes, you are referred directly to a hospital clinic for a colposcopy to check the cervix more closely. Further follow up and treatment will depend on the colposcopy findings.

Those due for screening will still be invited at the interval in which they were advised of at the time of their last test. Only those who attend cervical screening on or after 1 July, and meet the clinical criteria, will have their next test due date set at 5 years.

For more information about cervical screening: nhs.uk/cervical-screening/

Published: Jul 1, 2025