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Cervical Screening

Cervical screening is testing done on people who are at risk of getting cervical cancer, but who have no symptoms and generally feel fine. The cervix is a body part that connects the uterus (womb) to the vagina (genital opening). Cervical cancer is cancer in the cervix. Regular cervical screening can help you avoid getting cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer deaths happen more often in parts of the world where cervical screening is not available. The dramatic decrease from 1980 to 2014 in the rate of new cervical cancer cases and deaths from cervical cancer is almost entirely due to cervical screening.

Cervical cancer is almost always caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).

Facts about HPV

  • HPV is a family of viruses. There are more than 100 types of HPV and they can cause changes to the cells of the cervix. With some types of HPV, these cell changes can turn into cervical cancer over time if they are not treated.
  • People can get HPV from having sexual contact of any kind with another person. Sexual contact includes when someone has contact with another person’s genitals (private parts). This contact can be with the hands, mouth or genitals.
  • HPV is common and 8 out of 10 people will get HPV at least once in their lifetime. HPV will often go away on its own without doing any harm.
  • Someone can have HPV for many years and not know it unless they get the cervical screening test.
  • The cervical screening test checks for types of HPV that can sometimes cause cervical cancer. It also checks for cell changes in the cervix caused by these types of HPV. The test does not check for types of HPV that do not cause cancer.

When to Get Screened

The Ontario Cervical Screening Program recommends that most eligible people get screened every 5 years.

Get screened if you:

  • are at least 25 years old
  • are a woman, Two-Spirit person, transmasculine person or nonbinary person with a cervix
  • have ever had sexual contact with another person
  • do not have symptoms, like different bleeding or discharge (clear or yellow fluid) from the vagina (genital opening), and
  • are due for cervical screening according to the Ontario Cervical Screening Program’s recommendations

Research shows that most people need cervical screening every 5 years from ages 25 to 69. Getting screened for human papillomavirus (HPV) with a cervical screening test every 5 years is as effective as getting screened with a Pap test every 3 years.

Eligible people need to get cervical screening even if they:

  • have had the HPV vaccine
  • feel healthy
  • have been through menopause
  • have not had any family members with cervical cancer
  • have had sexual contact with only 1 person
  • have had the same sexual partner for a long time
  • have not had sexual contact in a long time
  • have only had protected sexual contact
  • are in a same-sex relationship
  • are pregnant
  • have had a subtotal hysterectomy and kept their cervix

You do not need to start cervical screening before age 25, even if you have had sexual contact. You do not need to get cervical screening if you have never had sexual contact with another person.

You may need to get cervical screening every 3 years if you have a weakened immune system. People with a weakened immune system include people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as people who take medicine that makes the immune system weaker or who need dialysis. It also includes people with organ or stem cell transplants, lupus or congenital immunodeficiency (born with an immune system defect).

Cervical screening is also recommended after getting treated for cell changes in the cervix. Based on the results of this treatment, your doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife will let you know how often you should get screened.

Most people can stop cervical screening anytime between the ages of 65 to 69. Your doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife can help you decide if you should continue to get screened after age 69.

If you have not been screened for more than 5 years, talk to your doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife.

If you have had a hysterectomy, you should talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner to see if you need to keep getting cervical screening.

Cervical Screening Test

The cervical screening test checks for types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can sometimes cause cervical cancer. It also checks for cell changes in the cervix caused by these types of HPV.

The cervical screening test:

  • Has replaced the Pap test because it is better at helping prevent cervical cancer. The Pap test only checked for cell changes in the cervix, but the cervical screening test can check for cancer-causing types of HPV and cell changes.
  • Does not check for:
    • other types of HPV that do not cause cancer
    • other cancers in the reproductive organs, such as ovarian cancer
    • sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or HIV/AIDS
  • Feels like getting a Pap test. A doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife will use a small, soft brush to take cells from the cervix so the lab can test the cells for types of HPV and cell changes. The person doing the test can try to make the test as comfortable as possible.

You will get the results of your cervical screening test by mail. The person who did your test will also get a copy of your results and can answer any questions you may have. They can talk with you about next steps.

To learn more about what happens after your cervical screening test, see Frequently Asked Questions After a Cervical Screening Test.

Where to Get Screened

Call your doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife to make an appointment to get screened. You can also use Health811 any time to find a clinic that does cervical screening tests:

Some public health units and community health centres also do cervical screening tests. People with a cervix (including women, Two-Spirit people, transmasculine people and nonbinary people) in the North West and Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant regions can access screening through one of Ontario’s mobile screening coaches.

To find Indigenous primary health care organizations, visit Indigenous Primary Health Care Council and Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario.

Your ability to get French language health services will depend on the type and number of French language health services in your area. You can find a list of French language health services agencies in the French Language Services Act.

Ontario Cervical Screening Program

The Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP) is a province-wide screening program run by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario). The program’s goal is to lower the chance of developing or dying from cervical cancer by encouraging eligible people with a cervix (including women, Two-Spirit people, transmasculine people and nonbinary people) to get screened regularly and to get more testing after an abnormal screening results, if needed. The OCSP sends letters to eligible people inviting them for a cervical screening test, telling them their test results and next steps after the test, and reminding them when to get screened again. The program also gives doctors, nurse practitioners and midwives research-based guidelines and resources so they can give the best possible care to people getting cervical screening.

Screening Letters Sent to the Public

Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) sends letters to eligible people inviting them for a cervical screening test, telling them their test results and next steps after the test, and reminding them when to get screened again.

Samples of some of these letters are available on the Cervical Screening Letters page.

Resources for the Public

Cervical Screening Test Information

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

Helpful Websites