What happens during my appointment?
The nurse or doctor will talk with you first, ask you some questions about your health and your past cervical screening results, and will explain your choices. There are now two ways of having a cervical screening test: clinician-collected and a self-collected.
What if I am worried, frightened, or embarrassed about having the test?
The Cervical Screening Test is a simple and quick procedure. If you have never had a Pap smear or Cervical Screening Test, ask your doctor or nurse to explain what will happen and to show you the speculum.
If you are anxious or concerned about having the procedure, consider calling us or making an appointment to discuss your concerns first.
Remember that the nurses and doctors at Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT are specially trained and highly experienced in cervical screening. They do these tests all the time, and work to make the experience a safe and positive one for you. You can also choose to have a self-collected Cervical Screening Test.
The clinician-collected Cervical Screening Test
You can choose to have a clinician-collected Cervical Screening Test, and if you have symptoms or have had a recent abnormal test, then it is recommended that you do this. A clinician-collected Cervical Screening Test is when the nurse or doctor collects the sample.
To do this they will invite you to take off your clothes from the waist down, including underwear, and ask you to lie down on an examination bed. You can leave your top on and should be offered a privacy sheet to cover up if you want it.
The nurse or doctor will then gently insert a small instrument called a speculum into the vagina so that they can see the cervix. They will use a soft brush to collect cells from the cervix and place the sample into a container. The test itself should only take about 5 to 10 minutes.
The sample is then sent to the pathology lab to check for HPV and to look at the cells if needed.
The self-collected Cervical Screening Test
You may choose to collect your own sample. This is called a self-collected Cervical Screening Test. The self-collected cervical screening test is done after talking to a nurse or doctor. Not everyone is eligible to have a self-collected test (for example, if you have symptoms), so you will need to check with your doctor or nurse.
• How do I do a self-collected cervical screening test?
The test is simple to do. You will be given a red topped tube with a long cotton tip swab. You do the test in a bathroom or other private space. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them well. Remove your underwear, twist the red cap, and remove the swab from the tube. Locate the red mark halfway down the swab, part the skin folds at the opening of your vagina and insert the swab into your vagina up to the red mark. Gently rotate the swab for 20-30 seconds. Remove the swab from your vagina, put it back into the tube, and return it to your nurse or doctor.
• Is the self-collected test accurate?
Yes, the self-collected test is just as accurate as the test collected by a nurse or doctor using a speculum. The main difference is that when a nurse or doctor collects the sample, they can collect cells. They are also able to examine your vulva, vagina, and cervix. Some conditions, such as polyps, inflammation, or skin conditions, can only be diagnosed when seen on examination.
• What happens if HPV is detected on my self-collected test?
If HPV is detected, it depends on what type it is as to what happens next.
- If type 16 or 18 are detected, you will be referred to a gynecologist for further investigation.
- If one of the other HPV types is detected, you will need to return to your nurse or doctor to have a speculum examination so they can collect a sample of cells from the cervix. Collecting cells is essential as it will guide what happens next and if you need to see a gynaecologist or just return for a repeat test in 12 months.
If you are under 30, there is around a 17% chance that you will need to return for a clinician-collected sample (this is because HPV is more common in younger people). If you are over 30, there is around a 5% chance that you will need to return.
• What about home self collected tests
Several ‘self-testing’ home-based kits are being advertised in Australia that are not part of the National Cervical Screening Program. These are not approved and should not be used.
