Book a 15-Minute Cervical Screening at Your Convenience
While we offer longer appointments and smear tests as part of a comprehensive health assessment, we recognise that some patients may prefer to book a standalone smear test without any other add-ons while being seen by a GP or specialist at a competitive rate.
The smear itself usually takes only a few minutes and is carried out with care, sensitivity, and discretion.
The smear test covers:
- Pap Smear (test for abnormalities/changes in cells)
- HPV Smear Test (test for the presence of cells for high-risk types of HPV virus)
The procedure costs £200
Is HPV infection sexually transmitted?
HPV infection can be sexually transmitted but can also be acquired by genital skin contact. Barrier contraception is protective to some extent but not 100%. HPV infection can persist in the body for many years and it may not be possible to pinpoint exactly who you got the infection from. HPV infection is in fact so common that it is just a marker of having had sexual contact in the past.
HPV does cause cervical cancer, but only in a very, very small proportion of cases. Hence HPV infection is common, but cervical cancer is very rare. In most cases of HPV infection, the immune system will get rid of the infection for you. From acquiring HPV infection to getting cervical cancer, it takes between 10 to 15 years. This means that if you have regular smear tests, any abnormality on the cervix can often be detected before it becomes a serious problem. The risk of getting cervical cancer is extremely low if you have regular smear tests as suggested by your GP. There are over 100 different types of HPV virus and only 14 of them are high risk types associated with cervical cancer. The commonest high-risk types are 16, 18, 31, 33 and 45.
Read more about cervical abnormality
In addition to high-risk types of HPV, there are also low-risk types which are not associated with causing cervical cancer. Two common low-risk HPV types are 6 and 11 which are associated with causing genital warts. It is possible to have an infection with low-risk HPV without any symptoms. Some women and men however will develop lumps on the genital skin or inside the vagina or anus, these are known as genital warts. If you are worried or concerned that you may have genital warts you can speak to a doctor or nurse who will be able to look at them. Although genital warts do not always require treatment and may resolve on their own, there are several options available which can help may them go away.
HPV test is now used as a screening test for cervical abnormalities instead of the traditional smear test. The new primary HPV screening test looks for presence of Human Papilloma Virus and is more sensitive. It is important to realise that having high risk HPV, does not mean that you have cervical abnormality.
Yes you can, you can book our quick 15-minute cervical screening which is a smear test at a competitive rate. This allows a trained GP or Gynaecologist to conduct the test for you and answer questions you might have.
- Give up smoking – there is evidence to confirm that giving up smoking helps improve your immunity.
- Favour berries – choose purple and red veg and fruits which are high in lycopene, so tomatoes, beetroot and blueberries.
- AHCC shiitake mushroom extract; taking a 3gm daily supplement of AHCC has been proven to boost immunity and help clear HPV infection in some people. (The results of a trial in 2019 showed 60% reduction in HPV infection). One should be taken daily for at least 6 months.
- Green tea has benefits to help boost immunity. If you choose this option, one should be taken daily for at least 6 months.
This is not necessary.
It is very likely that you both carry the same subtypes of the virus and will have already developed immunity.