ARGYLL and Bute’s health and social care partnership is marking Cervical Screening Awareness Week by encouraging women in the Helensburgh and Lomond area to undergo regular smear tests.

Women aged between 25 and 49 are invited to participate in cervical screening every three years, while women aged between 50 and 64 receive an invitation every five years.

NHS Highland is joining Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust to encourage all eligible women to take part in cervical screening. If you missed your last screening invite, don’t wait until you next receive an invitation letter – you can make an appointment to be screened at your GP practice.

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There are usually no symptoms with changes in cervical cells and sometimes there are no symptoms with early-stage cervical cancer. But you should make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible if you have unusual discharge, or bleeding after sex, between periods or after the menopause.

There are many other conditions that can cause these symptoms that are not related to cancer. However, if you experience them, you should make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible, even if you have recently had a normal cervical screening result.

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