Better Health Channel
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
  • Regular cervical screening is your best protection against cervical cancer. If you’re aged 25 to 74 and have a cervix, and have ever been sexually active, you need a Cervical Screening Test every 5 years, even if you’ve had the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine.
  • The HPV vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV infection known to cause cervical cancer, so regular screens are still required for eligible people who have been vaccinated.
  • The Cervical Screening Test is effective because it detects HPV, which causes almost all cervical cancers. The body can get rid of most HPV infections naturally but if it doesn’t, some types of HPV can cause changes to the cells of your cervix. If these cell changes are not picked up early and treated, they can turn into cervical cancer.
  • From 1 July 2022, the National Cervical Screening Program has expanded screening test options, offering self-collection as a choice for all people participating in cervical screening. The change means if you are aged 25 to 74 years you will have the choice to screen using either a self-collected vaginal sample or a healthcare provider (doctor or nurse) collected test sample from the cervix.
  • Both options are equally accurate and safe ways to detect HPV or any associated cervical disease.

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Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.

Reviewed on: 01-07-2022