Cervical screening

There are now two types of cervical screening.

• An HPV self-test. This is where you use a swab to take a sample of cells from your vagina (or a nurse or doctor can do this for you). The HPV self-test was introduced to Aotearoa in 2023.
• A cervical sample (also known as a smear test). This is when a doctor or nurse uses a speculum to open your vagina and take a sample of cells from your cervix.

What type of cervical screening is best for you depends on results you’ve had from cervical screening in the past. For example, if your tests have shown you have HPV (sometimes called “abnormal cells”), you’ll need to have a cervical sample taken. If you’ve tested positive for HPV in the past and you haven’t been told you can go back to normal screening, you may need to have a cervical sample taken.  
 
If you’re not sure which type of test is better for you, you can book a phone appointment with us to discuss. 
 

No, not normally.

There are two types of cervical screening.  

The HPV self-test is where you swab your vagina – or a nurse or doctor can do it for you. It shouldn’t hurt – it’s the size of a cotton bud. 

The cervical sample is where a nurse or doctor uses a speculum to gently open your vagina. Then they use a soft brush to take some cells from your cervix. Most people don’t find this painful, but some find it uncomfortable. If you find it too uncomfortable, talk to the nurse or doctor who’s doing your test. 

HPV is really common. It’s the most common sexually transmissible (STI) worldwide. Around 80% of adults who aren’t vaccinated will have an HPV infection at some point.

There are lots of different strains of HPV. Most don’t cause any issues. But some lead to genital warts. And some cause cell changes in the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer. That’s why we test for HPV. And why you can get free HPV vaccination from the age of 11 to 26.

Having HPV doesn’t mean you have cervical cancer. If you test positive for HPV, you’ll need to book an appointment for a cervical sample to confirm what type of HPV you have and decide next steps. 

You need to have regular cervical screening if you:

• have a cervix
• are 25-69 years old
• have ever had sex

It makes no difference what your sexuality or gender identity is, or if you have not been sexually active for a long time. If you have a cervix, it’s best to get tested.

If you’re not sure whether cervical screening applies to you, you can get in touch with the National Cervical Screening Programme Register. 

You can do an HPV self-test if: 

• This is your first cervical screen, or
• You’ve had cervical screening before, with normal results, or
• You’ve tested positive for HPV or abnormal cells before, and have been told you can return to normal screening

Most people who are eligible for free cervical screening can get a free at-home HPV test.

If you’ve tested positive for HPV or abnormal cells before, and you haven’t had a negative test since, it’s best to get a cervical sample instead. 

Testing positive for HPV doesn’t mean you have cervical cancer.

There are lots of different strains of HPV. Most don’t cause any issues and many clear on their own. But some lead to genital warts. And some cause cell changes in the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer. Cervical screening just helps us catch the ones that need extra follow-up.

If your test shows you have HPV, you’ll need another test so we can check the cells on your cervix. We’ll look at whether there are early cell changes that could lead to cervical cancer. This might be a cervical sample taken in a clinic, or a referral to a colposcopy clinic where they take a closer look at your cervix. 

HPV is very common. You don’t need to tell anyone you have sex with that you have HPV – but you can if you want to.

Cervical screening isn’t fully funded in Aotearoa. Te Whatu Ora funds free cervical screening for:  

• People 30 years and over, with a cervix, who have never had a screening test (unscreened). This includes people with a cervix aged 70 to 74 years who have never been screened
• People 30 years and over, with a cervix, who haven’t had a test in the past five years (under-screened)
• Anyone requiring a follow up.
• Māori and Pacific people aged 25 to 69 years, with a cervix
• Anyone aged 25 to 69 years, with a cervix, who has their own Community Services Card   

If you come to a Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa clinic for cervical screening and you’re not eligible for free screening, you’ll pay for a 15-minute appointment. Check out our fees page for more details. 

You need to get cervical screening every three or five years from the age of 25 to 70.

How often you need to screen depends on the results of your test and your medical history.

A nurse or doctor can review your cervical screening history and let you know when you’re due for another screen.

Or you can contact the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) Register to:

• Find out if you are due or overdue for screening
• Change your contact details
• Ask any other questions about cervical screening

You can contact the NCSP by: 

• Calling: 0800 729 729
• Emailing:  info@ncspregister.health.nz

It's a good idea to talk to a nurse or doctor about getting a cervical screen if you have any symptoms that worry you — such as:

• Unusual bleeding between periods or after having sex
• Lower tummy pain or pain during sex
• Unusual discharge

We are cervical screening experts. We can:

• Help you work out what type of cervical screening is best for you
• Do your cervical sample
• Teach you how to do your HPV self-test
• Do your HPV self-test for you
• Send you an HPV self-test

Anyone can visit our clinics. If you want to talk with us, we want to talk to you. 

Find out more about getting cervical screening with us. 

Make an appointment