First cervical screening: ‘It was over before I knew it’

Erica Donnelly, 26, who lives in Sunderland, waited about a year to book her screening appointment after receiving an invite.

“I was in a massive panic about it because I have PTSD relating to sexual trauma, so I was really extra nervous about that,” she says.

When she finally had the test done last month, she brought her partner with her for support and to help her in case she had a flashback or a panic attack. Having them there also made the experience feel more “comfortable and casual”, she says.

Bianca Ionici, 27, who lives in London, says she put off her cervical screening “for at least two years” because of concerns about pain.

But after getting another invite which contained a lot of information about the process, Bianca booked her screening in January.