Publish date: 19 June 2025
Two young women from Kent are urging others to take charge of their health and ‘love their cervix’ as NHS England South East launches a vital new cervical cancer screening campaign.
To mark cervical screening awareness week (19 to 24 June), young women from across the region have shared their experiences of cervical screening to promote the campaign's powerful message to young women – Love Your Cervix – and take control of your health.
The campaign will target those who are either due or overdue their first and second screening appointments and encourage women, particularly those aged 25 to 29, to book an appointment with their GP practice when invited by the NHS for their cervical screening and get checked out to help stop any cancer developing.
Myths
Love Your Cervix aims to dispel myths about cervical screening (also known as smear tests), and empower women to take control of their health and make an appointment to have their screening.
NHS screening works by using a highly effective test to check for high-risk HPV, which can cause abnormal cells to develop in the cervix. These abnormal cells can, over time, turn into cancer if left untreated. The test takes less than five minutes and the whole appointment takes 10 minutes.
Morgan
Morgan, 27, who lives in Kent, took up the offer of cervical screening as soon
as she was invited.
She said: “I booked my first cervical screening in as soon as I received my letter, six months before my 25th birthday. Although I’m one of the youngest of my friends, I was one of the first to have my screening. Many of my friends received their invites during Covid but didn’t take up the offer. I was a bit nervous having read some comments online and not being able to talk to my friends about their experience, but I like to take control of my health where I can, so I booked my appointment.
“The screening was so quick and easy, and the nurse was super relaxed and made me feel comfortable. I got my letter one week later confirming no abnormal results and shared my experience with all my friends, many of whom then booked in to get theirs done.
“All in all, it was one second of slight discomfort for the benefit of knowing that any changes to the cells of my cervix that might turn into cancer, would be caught as early as possible. I’ll happily be attending my next screening.
“My advice to others would be not to trust everything you read online, book the appointment, and normalise talking about cervical screening with your friends.”
Megan
Megan, 27, from Kent, attended her routine screening appointment which detected abnormal cells. These were treated and she continues to attend regular routine screening.
She said: “I didn’t want to do it, but it never crossed my mind not to go because I know how important cervical screening is. I had my first screening just before I was 25 and they found abnormal cells. Thankfully these were treated, and I am now okay and I attend regular routine screening.
“I was shocked to hear that so many people still don’t go to their screening because everyone I know goes to their and all the influencers I see advocating on social media.”
Important to book
It is important all eligible women attend their screening.
Whatever your age or where you live, if you’ve been invited to attend your cervical screening, please book an appointment with your GP practice.
