An infection with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) may cause abnormal cervical cells, if left untreated may develop into cervical cancer.

The purpose of cervical cancer screening is to detect abnormal cervical cells or Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection before cervical cancer develops.

Early detection of abnormal cervical cells through cervical cancer screening improves the chance of initiating effective treatment before cervical cancer develops.

However, due to the fact that not all untreated abnormal cervical cells develop into cancer the screening may cause needless discomfort and treatment in some women.

Women aged 23-64 with a Danish Civil Registration Number will receive an invitation to cervical cancer screening at regular intervals. Participation is voluntary and free of charge.

The frequency of invitation is based on age and date of birth:

• 23 – 29-year-old women are invited every 3rd year.
• 30 – 49-year-old women are invited every 3rd year if they have an even date of birth.
• 30 – 49-year-old women are invited every 5th year if they have an odd date of birth.
• 50 – 64-year-old women are invited every 5th year.

The invitation encourages women to book a screening appointment with their general practitioner.

Non-participants will receive reminders 3 and 6 months after the initial invitation. In the second reminder, women will be offered the opportunity to order a HPV self-sampling kit.

Invitations and reminders are sent by Digital Post to borger.dk. Women who are not signed up for Digital Post will receive correspondence by ordinary postal mail.

Screening for cervical cancer can be performed in different ways. The screening method offered depends on the women's age, date of birth, and screening invitation (please see: "Who is invited and how often").

Screening examination performed by your general practitioner

If the screening is performed by a general practitioner or nurse at your general practitioner's office, the doctor or nurse will collect a cell-sample from the cervix during a gynaecological examination.
The gynaecological examination usually takes 5-10 minutes. The cell-sample will be analysed for abnormal cervical cells (dysplasia) and/or HPV.

Before leaving the general practitioner, women are advised to arrange with their general practitioner or nurse how they prefer to receive information about the screening result.
It is possible to receive the screening test result by contacting the general practitioner's office or by Digital Post (if not signed up for Digital Post, postal mail is used).

It you are pregnant or have your period we recommend that you reschedule your appointment.

Screening performed by self-sampling

If the screening is done using a self-sampling kit at home, you will receive a guidance on how to perform the test and how to handle the sample. When returned to the laboratory the sample is analysed for HPV.

It is not recommended to use a self-sampling kit during pregnancy or during menstruation.

In most cases the screening examination test results is available within 14 days. How screening examination test results is conveyed depends on how the screening is performed:

• If the screening is performed by a general practitioner, women may receive the screening test result by contacting the general practitioner's office. However, your general practitioner may also have ordered, that the test result is sent to you by Digital Post (if not signed up for Digital Post, postal mail is used). Therefore, it is always advisable that you confer with your general practitioner on how you prefer to receive the screening result at time of examination.
  
  
• If the screening is performed using a self-sampling kit at home, the test result will be sent by Digital Post (if not signed up for Digital Post, postal mail is used). If consented to, your general practitioner will receive a copy of the test result. If your test shows signs of HPV you will be recommended to schedule an ordinary screening appointment performed by your general practitioner.

The test results will be presented as normal, abnormal or inadequate. 

A normal result

If the test result is normal, the test shows no signs of abnormal cervical cells (dysplasia) and/or HPV. In these cases, additional follow-up examinations are not required. The women will be recommended to participate in screening next time she receives a screening invitation.

Despite a normal screening test result, some women are recommended additional examinations. For example, this might be the case when previous test results have shown abnormal cervical cells.

An abnormal result

If the screening result is abnormal, the test shows signs of abnormal cervical cells (dysplasia) and/or HPV.

In this case, the women will be recommended additional examinations. All women with an abnormal screening test result are therefore advised to consult their general practitioner.

An inadequate result

If the screening result is inadequate, it was not possible to evaluate the sample, for instance due to technical issues.

In these cases, the women will be recommended a new screening examination.

You will not receive an appointment for additional examinations automatically. Your general practitioner must carry out or refer you to relevant examinations in accordance with your screening examination results.

Additional examination at your general practitioner

If you have milder abnormal cervical cells or a HPV infection, it may be sufficient with an additional examination at your general practitioner. Typically, it is recommended that the additional examination is performed 6 or 12 months after your screening examination. Most often this examination is carried out in the same way as the screening examination.  

Additional examination by a gynaecologist

If you have severe abnormal cervical cells, persisting milder abnormal cervical cells or specific types of HPV, it is recommended that a gynaecologist performs an additional examination. Contact your general practitioner to get a referral to a gynaecologist. The gynaecologist may perform an extended gynaecological examination during which your cervix can be examined in greater detail for signs of disease.

Cervical cancer screening is voluntary and free of charge. You can always permanently or temporary withdraw from the screening programme (please click the box termed "Delay or cancel" at your right). This action will postpone or cancel the regular invitations to screening for cervical cancer.

If you have withdrawn from the screening programme and wish to re-enter, this is possible by contacting The Department of Public Health Programmes (please click the box termed "Contact" at your right).