About cervical screening with disability
Australia is on track to eliminate cervical cancer, but it’s important to make sure no-one is left behind. Data shows that people with disability are less likely to do cervical screening than the general population. This might be because:
- it’s not always easy for people with disability to get the healthcare they need – sometimes healthcare spaces aren’t accessible or there’s not enough time to talk to your healthcare provider about what matters to you
- if you have complex health needs, it can be hard to make time for preventive healthcare like cervical screening – even though it’s really important!
- sometimes, healthcare providers or family members wrongly assume that a person with disability has not been sexually active or had sexual contact and does not need cervical screening.
Screen Me! is a reminder that people with disability have the same right to preventive healthcare as anyone else.
Kitchen - Margot and Linda
Margot opens a letter – it is from the National Cervical Screening Program.
Margot: Mum, what's this? Is this something I need to worry about?
Linda: Um, No. No, it's not something you really have to worry about.
Linda takes the letter from Margot and puts it in a draw.
Café - Margot and Auggie
Auggie: …they have these like giant cookies. They're like the size of…
Auggie signs ‘thank you’ to Darcy, the waitress who has brought their meals.
Margot: … you 2 are very obvious.
Auggie: Giggles.
Margot: Hey Auggie, can I ask you something? Have you ever had a cervical screening test?
Auggie: Well, that came out of nowhere.
Margot: Well… I received this in mail but mum said not to worry about it.
Margot hands Auggie the letter she received earlier.
Auggie: It's just saying that now you're of a 25 you should have a cervical screening every five years just to check that your cervix is healthy. I go routinely and actually have my screening this afternoon… randomly.
Margot: Oh, so everyone with a cervix needs one?
Auggie: Yep, your mum's probably just feels uncomfortable thinking about you being sexually active, which is exactly why you need to get the tests done.
Look, there's two different ways you can do it now. Your doctor or nurse can do it for you, or you can do it yourself with a self swab. Maybe talk to your mum again and help her understand this impacts everyone with the cervix, like whether they've had sex once or, well, more than once.
Margot: Auggie!
Doctor’s Office – Doctor and Katie
Doctor: Well that's it for today. Thanks Katie. Oh, actually you're due for a cervical screening test.
Katie: Can you check again? I'm sure I only just had one.
Doctor: Did you know you can do it yourself now using a self swab? I can talk you through how to use it if you like.
Katie: I'm listening.
Doctor’s waiting room – Auggie and Darcy
Auggie: [ASL] Thanks for supporting me. I trust you being here.
Darcy: [ASL] I’m glad I’m here with you.
Bathroom - Katie
Voice off screen: Can I say something?
Katie: Who's that?
Katie’s [Cartoon] Cervix: She's forgotten. Fair enough. Long time. No attention. I'm your cervix.
Katie: Are you real?
Katie’s [Cartoon] Cervix: Yes, I'm real. So let's do what we can to check that we have a healthy cervix. Listen, I know in the past this has been uncomfortable.
Katie: That's an understatement.
Katie’s [Cartoon] Cervix: Now you can do it yourself. It's easy. 10 seconds, two to three rotations in the vagina.
Katie: We've got this.
Katie’s [Cartoon] Cervix: Yes, we do.
Doctor’s Office – Doctor and Auggie
Doctor: OK, all done. That's it for now. I'm really glad to see you keeping up with the screening every five years.
Auggie: Thanks Doc.
Doctor’s office waiting room – Auggie and Darcy
Auggie walks into the waiting room from the doctor’s office. Darcy rises from her seat.
Auggie: [ASL] When are you having your test?
Darcy shrugs.
Auggie: [ASL] When you’re ready, I will be here too. You can always read more information if it makes you feel better?
Bedroom – Darcy
Darcy reads the health.gov.au/ncsp website. Darcy’s cartoon cervix, waves from the nightstand to her.
Darcy’s [Cartoon] Cervix: [ASL] See Darcy, this is bigger than you or I.
Darcy: [ASL] Who are you?
Darcy’s Cervix: [ASL] I’m your cervix. You and me, Darcy, we can help eliminate cervical cancer in Australia. What do you say?
Darcy nods and uses her laptop to book an appointment.
Doctor’s office waiting room – Auggie, Darcy, Margot and Linda
Auggie and Darcy sit in the waiting room. Margot walks out of the doctor’s office, Linda follows behind her.
Margot: Hey, Auggie.
Auggie: Oh, hey Margot, what are you doing here?
Margot: I just did my first ever Cervical Screening Test.
Auggie: Nice one.
Margot’s [Cartoon] Cervix: And if it's good news, we don't have to come back for another five years.
Doctor: Darcy Jones?
Auggie: Oh, that's us. See you, Margot.
Margot: Bye.
Auggie and Darcy walk into the doctor’s office. Margot winks at her cartoon cervix and leaves with Linda.
Voice over black screen with text
Cervical screening is a test to check that your cervix is healthy and it can help stop cervical cancer. Anyone of the cervix aged 25 to 74 should have a Cervical Screening Test every five years, including people with disability. Getting the test has been made easier. Your doctor or nurse can do the test, or you can take the test yourself. How you do it is your choice. Find out more at www.health.gov.au/screen-me, or ask your doctor or nurse for more information.
Screen Me! short film
Screen Me! encourages people with disability to do their cervical screening. The short film was made for and by people with disability.
Screen Me! was co-created by the Daffodil Centre, the Centre of Disability Studies and disability-inclusive Bus Stop Films.
The Screen me! short film is available in audio description.
Who should screen
Cervical screening is for you if you:
- are a woman or person who has a cervix
- are aged between 25 and 74
- have ever had any sexual contact (with anyone)
It makes no difference if you:
- have had the HPV vaccination or not
- are no longer sexually active
- have been with only one sexual partner
- are straight, lesbian, bisexual, or sexually diverse
- are gender diverse (and have a cervix)
- have been through menopause
- have had a baby or are pregnant (make sure you let your healthcare provider know, though).
If you have had a full or partial hysterectomy, please check with your healthcare provider about screening.
Your questions answered
Learn more about cervical screening for people with disability.
Find out how you can support people with disability to do their cervical screening.
Education and training for healthcare providers
Find out about offering cervical screening to people with disability.
Information for healthcare professionals
Resources on how to engage patients with disability in cervical screening
National Cervical Screening Program
