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Screening information for Transgender and Non-binary individuals - About cervical screening

Who: Anyone aged 25 to 64 who has a cervix

When: Every five years

Test: Cervical screening (smear) test

If you have a cervix it is important for you to attend your cervical screening.

Cervical screening (smear) test can save lives by preventing cancer from developing in the cervix (the neck of the womb).

Contact Cervical Screening Wales (Need to link this contact page)

Things you need to know about cervical screening

If you are registered with your doctor as female, you will be invited to make an appointment for cervical screening.

It is important to attend if you have a cervix. If you do not have a cervix, you do not need to attend. Let your doctor or Cervical Screening Wales know so that you do not receive further invitations.

If you are not registered with your doctor as female, you will not be invited for cervical screening.

If you are registered as male and have a cervix, it is important that you are screened. To do this, let your doctor or Cervical Screening Wales know.

If you or your doctor let Cervical Screening Wales know, they can automatically invite you each time you are due to have cervical screening and tell you your results.

We may invite people who do not need to have cervical screening as they do not have a cervix. If you do not have a cervix, you will need to let your doctor or Cervical Screening Wales know so we do not send you further invitations.

General information

We understand that you may be worried about going to a cervical screening appointment.  You may want to contact your doctor’s surgery to ask if you can have your appointment at the beginning or end of the clinic.

If you are a trans man taking long-term testosterone, your screening test may be uncomfortable or painful. You may want to:

  • talk to your doctor or nurse about using a different size speculum;
  • ask them to use extra lubrication; or
  • lie on your side to have the test.

We know this can be an anxious time as there may be physical changes to your body, particularly to your genital area. If you are worried about having your cervical screening test, contact your doctors’ surgery or Cervical Screening Wales. If you find talking to your doctor difficult you may want to get support from someone you trust to do this for you.

Taking part in screening is your choice. If you do not want to be invited for your screening test you should contact Cervical Screening Wales, who will explain how you can opt out of cervical screening.

What you can do

  • Attend your cervical screening appointment even if your previous results did not find high-risk HPV.
  • Stop smoking, as smoking increases your risk of cervical cancer.

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). This is a very common virus that most people will come into contact with at some time during their lives. Only certain types of HPV cause cervical cancer. These are called high-risk types. Cervical screening tests for high-risk HPV.

HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact. For HPV in the cervix, this is through sexual contact. This can be by having sex, oral sex, or through genital touching or sharing sex toys. In Wales, HPV vaccinations are offered to everyone aged 12 to 13. The vaccine could prevent 7 out of 10 cases of cervical cancer in the future. However, it is possible to develop cell changes despite having had the vaccine. People who have been vaccinated and have a cervix should still have screening.

Signs and symptoms you should look for

You should tell your doctor if you have any of the following, even if your previous screening test did not find high-risk HPV.

  • Bleeding that is unusual for you.
  • Pain during or after having sex.
  • Discharge that is unusual for you.

For more information, visit the cervical screening page.

Page last reviewed: 24th February 2025