Cervical screening (which used to be called a smear test) is a free test on the NHS to help prevent cervical cancer. It is not a test to diagnose cervical cancer. All women and people with a cervix are eligible for cervical screening between the ages of 25-64. 

Currently in England you are invited for routine cervical screening every three years between the ages of 25-49, then every five years until you are 64. 

NHS England has announced that from 1 July 2025 all women and people with a cervix of screening age (25-64) will be invited every five years in England, unless they are at a higher risk of cervical cancer because of high-risk Human papillomavirus (HPV) and/or cell changes, when they will be seen more often.