Under consideration PE2045: Lower the cervical cancer smear test age in Scotland to 16

Background information

I have researched cervical cancer smear testing and I have come to the conclusion that something needs to be done to reduce the standard age at which women are first offered these tests to 16. The rise of young women being refused smear tests until they reach the age of 26 or until after they develop abnormal cells (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia at level 1 or level 2: cin1 or cin2). I believe that all smear tests should be given to every woman when they reach 16.

I am a mum of three at the age of 27 and I was refused a smear when I had my first child nine years ago. My children were all premature and nothing was done to understand why. I had my first smear at 26 to be told that I have cin2. The treatment didn’t work and now I am waiting on a plan for my next steps.

I want to make sure that no other young woman goes through what I have gone through over the past nine years.