The results of your screening test will be sent straight to your GP or the clinic where the test was carried out. Your surgery or clinic may not need to contact you if your results are normal.
Before you leave your screening, ask when your results are expected and how you will receive them. If necessary, contact your GP or clinic to get your results.
The Cancer Screening Programme aims to notify people of their results within 14 days. They should also contact you if your results are abnormal or if the test could not be read properly.
Below are the different types of results that you might receive after having a cervical screening test.
Normal
A normal test result means that there are no abnormal cell changes. No action is needed and you do not need your next cervical screening until it is routinely due.
Inadequate
You may be told that you need to have a repeat test because the first one could not be read properly. This may be because not enough cells were collected, they could not be seen clearly enough or an infection was present. If this the case, you will be asked to go back so that another sample of cells can be taken.
Borderline
If your result is borderline, it means that although there are some abnormal cell changes, they are very close to being normal and may disappear without treatment. You will be asked to return for another screening test six months later to check that the cells have returned to normal.
Abnormal
If you have abnormal results, you may be told that you have:
- mild or slight changes (mild dyskaryosis)
- moderate cell changes (moderate dyskaryosis)
- severe cell changes (severe dyskaryosis)
Dyskaryosis is a term used to describe the changes in the cells.
Your results may also refer to CIN. This stands for cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia, which is the term used to describe a type of abnormal cell change that can lead to cancer based on the tissue sample rather than the cells.
The grading system for these type of cell changes is explained in bullet points below.
- CIN 1 refers to mild changes
- CIN 2 refers to moderate changes
- CIN 3 refers to severe changes
All these results show that you have pre-cancerous cells. This does not mean that you have cancer or will get cancer. It just means that some of your cells are abnormal and if they are not treated they may develop into cervical cancer.
Not all abnormal changes need to be referred for further investigation or treatment. Your GP may recommend waiting to see if the changes disappear on their own and ask you to return for another screening in six months' time.
If further investigation is needed, your GP will refer you for another screening test or to a specialist (gynaecologist) for an examination called a colposcopy.
Colposcopy
A colposcopy is a simple examination that uses a special microscope called a colposcope. It can identify the extent of cell abnormality and helps determine whether you need treatment.
A small sample of tissue (biopsy) may also be taken from your cervix at the same time.
Read more about colposcopy.
