Cancer screening · Decision helper

Cervical Screening: Pap, HPV & the swab you can do yourself

The Pap smear is gone. It's now a 5-yearly HPV test — and you can collect the swab yourself, no speculum. This helps you choose how it's done and gives you the words to ask for it.

Your age

Just your age tailors everything below. Or tap an example.

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Have you ever had any sexual contact?

Optional. Cervical screening is offered to anyone who has ever been sexually active.

Have you screened before?

Optional.

Any of these apply right now?

Optional. Tick anything that's true — it changes what's right for you. Leave blank if none apply.

I'm having unusual bleeding (after sex, between periods, or after menopause), pain, or unusual discharge right now

I'm being followed up after a previous abnormal result (my GP called it 'test of cure' or watching something)

I was treated for a glandular abnormality, or had a hysterectomy after a high-grade result

My mother took DES when pregnant with me

What's putting you off, or what do you want to know?

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Dr HB LoIntegrative GP

Cervical Screening Helper

What changed

What it was

Pap smear

every 2 years

The speculum test a nurse did. Retired in Australia.

What it is now — your two choices

Cervical Screening Test (HPV)

every 5 years

Self-collect your own swab, no speculum same accuracy for finding HPV

Clinician-collected speculum, done for you same accuracy for finding HPV

Both new options: same lab test · same 5-year interval · your choice.

The honest bits

A positive HPV result can still mean a follow-up that does need a speculum. If your self-swab finds HPV type 16 or 18, you'll be referred for a closer look (colposcopy); other HPV types usually mean a repeat test in 12 months. Self-collect doesn't remove that step if it's needed. (Cervical screening pathway, Cancer Council)
Self-collect is not suitable for everyone — if you have unusual bleeding, pain or discharge, are being followed up after a past abnormal result, or were exposed to DES, the guidelines recommend a clinician-collected test so a second check (cytology) can be run. (Self-collection for cervical screening, DoHDA)
It still has to be organised through a doctor or nurse — you can't buy the kit off a shelf. They set it up; you do the swab in private. (About self-collection, Cancer Council)

Email yourself the one-pager to bring to your appointment

The exact sentence to say

"I'd like to do the self-collected cervical screening test if I'm eligible — can we set that up?"

Sent — check your inbox. Here's your card again so you can screenshot it now.

That email doesn't look right — mind checking it? Your card stays right here.

This is the general version. The full cervical screening kit walks through what a positive HPV result actually means, the 12-month-follow-up vs colposcopy pathways, and the questions to ask if you've ever had an abnormal result — so you're never blindsided by the next letter.

Facing a result you don't understand? Try the Lab Result Decoder · Got a decision to weigh up? BRAN questions.