Hello and thank you for your post,

I know that this must be worrying you but please do remember that a smear test result cannot pick up cancer but it can pick up abnormal cells. This is why you have been asked to go to the colposcopy clinic.

You are being seen in the colposcopy clinic to allow a specialist doctor or nurse see your cervix in more detail. If an abnormal area is seen then a small area may be biopsied and sent to a pathologist ( a specialist doctor) to see what kind of abnormality is there. You may be offered treatment to remove the abnormal area after the biopsy is taken or sometimes the doctor wants the biopsy results before treatment is given. For most women, the biopsy will show a level of abnormal cells that might mean that treatment is needed. In a very small number of women it might show that early stage cervical cancer is there, this will need to be treated.

You can read more about having a colposcopy on our website here 

I do hope that once you have been seen it will be a far less worrying situation for you.

Please know that by always attending the screening programme when invited you are greatly reducing the risk of getting cervical cancer.

Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Take care,

Caroline