Screening tests

Screening is offered free through the NHS as a way of identifying people who may have an increased risk of a particular condition. Screening is for people who are not displaying symptoms and otherwise appear healthy. A normal result indicates that you are at low risk of having the condition you are screened for.

AAA screening is a way of checking for a bulge or swelling in the aorta. This is the main blood vessel that runs from your heart down through your abdomen. In England, screening is offered to men during the year they turn 65.

For more information on AAA screening, visit the NHS website.

In England there are currently three routine cancer screenings available on the NHS, free of charge. These are for cervical cancer, bowel cancer and breast cancer.

Screening can detect a problem early, before you have symptoms. Finding cancer earlier can mean that treatment is more effective. Some cancers can be caused by genetic changes, lifestyle and environmental factors.

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Contact your GP for an appointment if you notice a change that is not normal for you, or you have a symptom that is worrying you. Finding cancer early means it is easier to treat.

For more information on the signs and symptoms visit the NHS website.

Learn more about routine cancer screenings:

Cervical screening, also known as a smear test, is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer.

Screening means testing people for early stages of a disease before they have any symptoms. It is offered to women and people with a cervix aged 26 to 64. How often you are invited will depend on your age:

  • Under 25 - up to 6 months before you turn 25
  • 25-49 - every 3 years
  • 50-64 - every 5 years
  • 65 and older - only if a recent test was abnormal

If you have had a total hysterectomy (to remove all of your womb and cervix) you will not need to go for cervical screening.

For more information on cervical screening, visit the NHS website.

Bowel cancer is a cancer found anywhere in the large bowel, including the colon and rectum.

Bowel cancer screening involves using a home test kit to collect a small sample to send to the lab.

The screening is offered to everyone aged 60 to 74 years. The programme is expanding over the next few years to those aged 50 to 59 years too, so some people may receive a test before they turn 60.

For more information on bowel screening, visit the NHS website.

Breast screening uses X-rays called mammograms to check your breasts for signs of cancer.

Anyone registered with a GP as female will be invited for NHS breast screening every three years between the ages of 50 and 71. You will receive a letter in the post.

If you are a trans man or trans woman or are non-binary, how you are invited will be dependent on the sex you are registered as with your GP. You may be invited automatically, or you may need to talk to your GP surgery or call the local breast screening service to ask for an appointment.

You will not automatically be invited for breast screening if you are 71 or over. But you can still have breast screening every three years if you want to. You will need to call your local breast screening service to ask for an appointment.

For more information on breast screening, visit the NHS website.