Gynaecologist won't let his daughters wait for smears

An expert in gynaecology has said he won't let his daughters wait until they are 25 before they can have a smear test.

Consultant Gynaecologist Paul Carter has seen many cases of cervical cancer that could have been prevented had they been detected earlier in a cervical screening:

"I have three daughters and I certainly won't leave it to 25 for them to have their first smear. Fewer than 60 women develop cancer under the age of 25 each year, but it is still too many.

"Many doctors – myself included – believe that the starting age for smears in England should be lowered, as teenagers become sexually active earlier."

Read the full article from the Daily Mail here.

Dr Hilary says money IS a factor

TV's Dr Hilary Jones said on live TV this morning that women under 25 are not screened due to money.

ITV's Daybreak had a feature about the new home testing kit for certain strands of the HPV virus that can lead to cervical cancer, and Dr Hilary was asked why under 25s weren't routinely screened any more:

"The point is that cervical cancer in someone aged under 25 is really very very rare - thankfully. 

"If we were to roll out the screening programme to all women under that age we're talking millions and millions of pounds, and there has to be a cut off point with screening where you say 'Is that money well spent? Should we be screening at a younger age?' 

"In some countries they do, in the UK the government have decided that it's not cost effective to do it. Now that's a debate to be had, but we would pick up very few women under that age."

You can watch the video and check out Daybreak's Cervical Cancer information page here.