What is screening?
Screening is a way of checking people who are seemingly healthy, but may have an increased risk of a particular condition. The purpose is to offer early treatment, or given them information to help them make informed choices.
See https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-screening/
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What types of screening does the NHS offer?
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Screening in pregnancy
Pregnant women are offered the following types of screening:
screening for infectious diseases (hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis)
screening for Down's syndrome, Patau's syndrome and Edwards' syndrome
screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia
screening for physical abnormalities (mid-pregnancy scan)
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Screening for newborn babies
Newborn babies are offered:
a physical examination, which includes the eyes, heart, hips and testes
a hearing test
a blood spot test to check if the baby has any of 9 rare conditions
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Diabetic eye screening
From the age of 12, all people with diabetes are offered an annual diabetic eye test to check for early signs of diabetic retinopathy.
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Screening for cancer
Cervical screening
Cervical screening is offered to women aged 25 to 64 to check the health of cells in the cervix. This tests initially for HPV (a virus), and if the virus is present then further checks are done. It has been offered every 3 years for those aged 25 to 49, and every 5 years from the ages of 50 to 64.
FROM JULY 2025, ALL women (see additional meaning below) aged 25 to 64 will be invited for test every 5 years, if their latest test for HPV is negative. Research has shown this is safe.
NHS England » NHS rolls out more personalised cervical screening for millions
Cancer Research UK > England changes cervical screening to every 5 years
Transgender and Non-binary people:
- Trans men, and Non-binary people assigned female at birth - registered with GP as female:
will be invited for cervical screening. - Trans men, and Non-binary people assigned female at birth - registered with GP as male:
can 'opt in' to receive invitations for cervical screening, by contacting their GP, nurse, sexual health clinic or transgender health clinic. - Trans women, and Non-binary people assigned male at birth - whether registered with GP as female or male:
do not need cervical screening.
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Breast screening
Breast screening is offered to women (see additional meaning below) aged 50 to 70 to detect early signs of breast cancer. Women over 70 can self-refer.
Transgender and Non-binary people:
- Trans men and Non-binary people assigned female at birth - registered with GP as female:
will be invited for breast screening. - Trans men and Non-binary people assigned female at birth - registered with GP as male:
will not be routinely invited for breast screening.
If you have NOT had chest reconstruction surgery, suggest talk to your GP, consider arrange mammogram at nearby hospital. - Trans women and Non-binary people assigned male at birth - registered with GP as female:
will be invited for breast screening.
Long-term hormone treatment can increase the risk of breast cancer. - Trans women and Non-binary people assigned male at birth - registered with GP as male:
will not be routinely invited for breast screening.
If you are on long-term hormone treatment, you may be at increased risk of cancer. Suggest talk to your GP, consider mammogram at nearby hospital.
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Bowel cancer screening
A home testing kit FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) is offered to men and women aged 60 to 74. The starting age will be widened to include people from 50 onwards.
Until a couple of years ago, there was another type of screening. Bowel scope screening uses a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end to look at the large bowel. It used to be offered to men and women at the age of 55 in some parts of England.
Now, this is still used, but usually when people have symptoms, or after the FIT shows positive.
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Screening for Aortic Aneurysm
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening
AAA screening (a scan) is offered to Men in their 65th year, (see additional meaning below), to detect abdominal aortic aneurysm (a dangerous swelling in the main blood vessel). Men older than 65 who missed the scan earlier, can self refer.
Transgender and Non-binary people:
- Trans men and Non-binary people assigned female at birth - registered with GP as female:
will be invited for AAA screening. - Trans men and Non-binary people assigned female at birth - registered with GP as male:
will be routinely invited for AAA screening.
Your risk is not so high, but you may still go for the scan if you wish. - Trans women and Non-binary people assigned male at birth - registered with GP as female:
will not be routinely invited for AAA screening.
However, your risk of AAA remains the same. You are advised to request the scan. - Trans women and Non-binary people assigned male at birth - registered with GP as male:
will be invited for AAA screening.