It’s a Smear Campaign

‘It’s A Smear Campaign’ is led by Nottingham Women’s Centre in partnership with Notts SVSS and is funded by the Rosa ‘Voices from the Frontline fund’. The campaign aims to bridge the gap between what healthcare professionals deliver and what patients actually need during cervical screening. Through shared understanding, empathy, and collaboration, we’ll empower women and people with cervixes to feel informed, supported, and respected—while encouraging healthcare professionals to reflect on and enhance the way care is provided. The ultimate goal is to ensure that every person with a cervix in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire receives consistent, culturally sensitive and trauma informed care.

Cervical screening, which is sometimes called a smear test, is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer. All people registered as female with their GP, aged 25 to 64, are invited for cervical screening every 5 years. Everyone with a cervix should be offered screening, but we know trans men don’t usually get this invite. We recognise that not everyone who has a cervix identifies as a woman. This survey is open to all people with a cervix, including trans and non-binary people. We understand that cervical screening can feel uncomfortable, distressing, or triggering for some people. You can find support on this page.

• You can skip any question.
• You can stop the survey at any time.
• Please only share what you feel comfortable sharing.

Your responses are anonymous and confidential and are sent directly to Karen, our EDI Lead at Notts SVSS, who has a good knowledge of issues affecting trans and non-binary people.  They will collate responses to ensure it sensitively reflects the experiences of trans participants.  A final report, co-authored with Nottingham Women’s Centre, will present the key findings from our survey.  Trans and non-binary responses will be collated under a separate heading, to ensure these experiences are not lost in the report.  This will ensure that all participant voices are meaningfully reflected in policy discussions on cervical screening.  If you would like to know how your data will be used/stored, please read the Notts SVSS Privacy Notice.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Your voice will help shape more inclusive and trauma informed cervical screening care in Nottingham.

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- Step 1 of 3

1. Are you aged 25 or over? *

• Yes
• No

2. Which area of Nottingham or Nottinghamshire do you live in? *

• Ashfield
• Bassetlaw
• Broxtowe
• Nottingham
• Gedling
• Mansfield
• Newark & Sherwood
• Rushcliffe
• Prefer not to say
• I don't live in Nottingham/Nottinghamshire

3. What is your gender? *

• Male
• Female
• Non-binary
• Prefer not to say
• Other

Other Gender *

it assigned as

4. Is the gender you stated the same as the one assigned at birth? *

• Yes
• No
• Prefer not to say

5. Have you ever attended cervical screening (smear test)? *

• Yes
• No

6. If YES, how would you describe your experience? *

• Positive
• Negative
• Mixed

7. Please tell us what helped make your experience positive? *

You can find more information about cervical screening and support available here: It's A Smear Campaign! - Nottingham Women's Centre

7. If your experience was negative or mixed, what could have made it better? *

You can find more information about cervical screening and support available here: It's A Smear Campaign! - Nottingham Women's Centre

7.5. If you feel comfortable, please tell us more about your experiences and how your needs were or weren’t met.

6. If you have not attended cervical screening, would you like to share why? *

7. What would help you feel more comfortable or able to attend? *

• More information or reassurance
• Choice of practitioner (e.g., gender)
• Longer appointments
• Accessibility adjustments
• Community clinic
• Other

Other *

8. Is there anything else you would like to share?

Next

Tell us what you already know about smear tests *

Where do you usually go for information about cervical screening (smear tests)? Tick as many as apply.

• GP/Doctor
• NHS Website/Leaflet
• Sexual Health Clinics
• Social Media
• Other Websites
• Friends & Family
• School (college/university)
• Community Groups (church, dance, football, etc)
• Other

Other *

. What information would you need to feel confident about attending a cervical screening (smear test)? *

Is there anything else you would like to share? *

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