Hey, I’m Jaina and I’m going to help you collect your own sample for your Cervical Screening Test.
This test looks for HPV – a common infection. Testing for HPV can help protect you from cervical cancer.
It’s okay to be nervous. Remember that this is a safe and effective way to have a Cervical Screening Test.
If you need extra help, just ask your healthcare provider. They can give advice without looking. If you think you’ve made a mistake, let them know. You can start again.
When you’ve been given a private space, find a place where you feel comfortable.
Without opening it, have a look at the self-collection swab. It might not look exactly like this one, but you should see one end that you can hold, and another end for taking your sample.
The first step is to pull down or take off your underwear.
Now, twist the cap and remove the swab from the packaging. Be careful to only hold it by the cap, and don’t put it down on anything. If you accidentally drop it, or the swab touches something, you can ask for another one.
The swab has a line or a mark to show you how far to insert it. Gently insert the swab into your vagina a few centimetres up to the line. Rotate it gently for 10 to 30 seconds. This might be a bit uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t hurt.
Remove the swab, replace it in the packaging, and seal the whole thing up.
And that’s it, you’re all done! Get dressed, and then give the self-collection swab to your healthcare provider. You can talk to them about what happens next, and how you’ll get your results.