cervical screening for survivors

Posted 2nd February 2026

World Cancer Day falls on 4th February. This year, we are sharing useful information for survivors and intimate examinations.

Most women and people with a cervix* don’t exactly relish the idea of having a smear test and it can be a nerve-wracking thing receiving your letter. But if you have experienced sexual violence, you may find this particularly traumatic or distressing.

We know that many survivors struggle to attend cervical screening because of their experience of sexual violence. Screening can feel intrusive and intimate because of the physical position the test is done in, the area examined and the equipment used. You might be worried that it will trigger flashbacks, a panic attack or make you feel out of control.

It is important to know that you are not alone with these feelings and that these are normal and reasonable responses for survivors of sexual violence. This page offers some information on things you can do to take back control and there are useful links at the bottom of our page. Our helpline staff and email support can also offer extra support on this issue.

*While much of this page might be helpful for trans, non-binary and intersex people, specialist information can also be found here:

(resources for male survivors can be found on this page.)

Screening letter

If getting the screening letter makes you anxious, talking about your feelings with someone you trust can be very helpful. That might be a close friend, a partner or a member of your family. If you are already receiving support from us, you can always talk about this with your counsellor, ISVA or support worker. Our helpline staff and email support can also be useful for people not already using our service.

Undergoing screening is voluntary and you do not have to attend if you feel this would be too much. While screening carried out by a clinician is described as ‘the gold standard’ it is possible that you can have a self-test kit. You can find out more about that in the section below.

If you do decide to go for screening, remember that you are deserving of care, safety and dignity. Clinicians will be aware of the extra needs of those who have experienced sexual violence. They will be able to make adjustments to make your screening appointment more bearable.

Your appointment

There are many things you can do to feel in control before and during your appointment. The Eve Appeal’s leaflet on cervical screening has some really useful information. Here are just a few suggestions:

Ensure that the sample taker will be of your preferred gender
Ask to be seen by a doctor or nurse that you already have a good relationship with. This might be somebody who already knows about your experiences and who you feel comfortable with. If they are not qualified to do the test, they might be able to act as a chaperone while the test is carried out.
Book an appointment just to talk about the test. You might also want to tell them about why you feel anxious. If you find it hard to start this conversation, writing things down or asking a friend to do this with you might help. You could use this sheet to help start discussion.
You could ask for a double appointment, to allow you to discuss your needs before the test. Remember that, even if you have talked about the test first, there is no obligation for you to have the test at this appointment.
Take someone with you for emotional support. You might ask them to speak for you or check in with you if you find you lose your voice during the examination.
You can direct parts of the test yourself. For example, you can ask for the smallest speculum needed for your size. You can also ask to put the speculum in by yourself.
Practice breathing or other grounding techniques before you go for the test. These can be used during the test if you start to feel stressed. Mindfulness or visualization techniques might prevent panic attacks. Taking an object or a scent with you, might help you feel grounded during the

It is helpful to remember that nothing can be done without your consent. If you feel uncomfortable or distressed, you can stop the test at any time. You might just want to pause, or you might decide to end the test and book for another day.

The nurse’s main concern should be for your comfort and wellbeing. They should be understanding of the need to move at your own pace.

After the test

After such an intimate examination, you might not feel like carrying on with your day as normal. This is totally understandable.

Many people find it helpful to plan something nice to do after their test. Going for coffee or a cake can be a useful act of self-care, as can grounding yourself in nature.

You might want to call our helpline, so that you can talk about your experience or practice grounding techniques down the phone.

Self-test kits

From early 2026, the NHS will be sending out home-test kits to people who have not been able to attend cervical screening. While testing with a clinician is seen as ‘the gold standard’ with only 68% of eligible people attending screening, home-testing can be useful preventative tool. This option might be especially useful for survivors. If you want to find out more about this, you can speak to your GP surgery or speak to a nurse working for the Eve Appeal.

Additional Support

The Eve Appeal is the UK’s leading gynaecological cancer charity and their website has lots of information on cervical screening and other cancers. They also have a helpline and other resources.

The Eve Appeal Website
The Eve Appeal leaflet on cervical screening
The Eve Appeal Helpline – 0808 802 0019
The Eve Appeal email and online service
Survivor’s Network Form for helping you talk to your clinician

Information for trans, non-binary and intersex people

While much of this page might be helpful for trans, non-binary and intersex people, specialist information can also be found here:

Notts SVS Services