Cervical Screening
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Women aged 20-69 are advised to have a cervical smear test every three years. You have a choice of where to go for a smear test. Your own doctor or practice nurse will usually be able to provide this service. Alternatively, the Family Planning Clinic can offer this service as well.
The Waikato DHB Sexual Health Service will also provide this service as part of a sexual health clinical assessment. The cost for a cervical smear varies and some practices provide the service for free.
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What is a cervical smear?A cervical smear test is not a test to look for cancer. It is a screening test that looks for abnormal changes in cells on the surface of the cervix (the neck of the uterus or womb). Some cells with abnormal changes can develop into cancer if they are not treated. Treatment of abnormal cells is very effective at preventing cancer. To find out more, visit www.healthywomen.org.nz
National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP)Waikato DHB is funded to provide two key components of the NCSP:
- National Cervical Screening Register
- Cervical screening health promotion
NCSP contactsYou can phone 0800 729 729 to find out about or change details on the NCSP register. The Health Waikato Cervical Screening Programme coordinator is Karen Stockman and she can be contacted on (07) 834 3632. The cervical screening health promoter is Nancy Danaher.
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