CERVICAL CANCER
SCREENING
In 2025, we invite women born in 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1995 for a free cervical cancer screening.
LIVING
PROOF
Early disease detection simplifies treatment.
Marit Rehepapp / Completed treatment in 2022
Cervical cancer is mostly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted mainly by skin and mucous membrane contact, including sexually. The source of infection is another person infected with the papillomavirus. Human papillomavirus infection may cause changes in cells that may develop into precancerous conditions and cervical cancer.
Cell changes develop over a longer period of time. The process usually takes time and may take up to 10–25 years. Participating in the screening helps to detect possible cell changes and precancerous conditions in time, that these can be treated so actual cancer will not develop.
Cervical cancer is not hereditary. All women of all ages can develop cervical cancer. In Estonia, the prevalence and mortality of cervical cancer is one of the highest in Europe.
Why should you participate in the screening?
- Cervical cancer screening searches for precancerous conditions, which means that the screening enables to prevent cancer.
- Free and easily accessible: in Estonia, cervical cancer screening is free for women in the target group, including for the uninsured, and screening is performed in various health care facilities all over the country. Alternatively, you can order the HPV test to your home.
- By participating in the screening you demonstrate that you care about your health.
It is important to participate in the screening even if you do not have any signs or symptoms. In case of early detection, it is possible to fully recover from the disease.
How to participate in cervical cancer screening?
You can participate in the screening in the following ways:
1. Schedule an appointment in the Health Portal
2. Phone a suitable health care facility and tell them that you wish to book a screening appointment
Contact information can be found HERE
3. Order the HPV home test from HERE
4. Ask for the HPV home test from pharmacies in Viljandi, Valga, Võru, Põlva, and Ida-Viru counties
Who are invited to cervical cancer screening?
In Estonia, women aged 30–65 are invited to cervical cancer screening every five years.
Screening tests are free for all insured and uninsured women who belong to the screening test target group for a given year.
Women who have not been sexually active or whose last intercourse was many years ago are still invited to a screening, as it may take decades for the viral infection to develop into cancer.
See when you are invited to a cervical cancer screening!
Do I have to wait for the invitation to participate in the screening?
You can participate in the screening without an invitation. If you belong to the screening target group in a given year, you can contact a health care facility directly (see the list above).
Women belonging to the target group will find their invitation/referral in the Health Portal (subsection ‘Appointments and referrals’) from the beginning of the screening year. Referral for screening is valid until the end of the calendar year.
Upon registration for the screening, the woman's year of birth is checked. You must bring your identity document to your screening appointment.
Women who have been diagnosed with cervical or uterine cancer within the last five years will not receive a cervical cancer screening invitation. This is based on queries to the Cancer Screening Registry and the Health Information System.
Screening invitation
The Cancer Screening Registry will send a personal invitation to women in the target group.
Women whose year of birth is part of the screening target group and whose place of residence is the Republic of Estonia at the time of generating the screening invitation/referral are invited to a screening.
Invitations to screenings are sent electronically, using the notification service of eesti.ee. An e-invitation will be sent to persons in the screening target group whose eesti.ee email address has been redirected to their personal email address or entered in the population register.
If there is no data on the redirection of emails in the Cancer Screening Registry, a paper invitation will be sent to the address entered in the population register. If data in the population register is inaccurate, the invitation may not reach the recipient. Therefore, it is important to check the accuracy of your contact details in the State Portal.
What is the procedure for cervical cancer screening?
All dangerous virus strains are checked by papillomavirus testing.
Regular testing for human papillomavirus, i.e. HPV testing, is important as catching the virus may cause cell changes in the long term. These changes can develop into precancerous conditions, which are usually not accompanied by changes in the woman’s well-being.
A HPV test can be done at a health care facility or at home (order the home testing kit here).
Women in the target group can get the HPV home test also from pharmacies in Viljandi, Valga, Võru, Põlva, and Ida-Viru county.
A home HPV test and a HPV test sample taken by a health care professional at a health care facility are equally accurate and reliable.
The HPV home testing sampling kit consists of a sampler, sampling instructions, an information leaflet, and a labelled prepaid return envelope. Women who have chosen at-home testing should follow the instructions and mail the sample at the latest within five days after taking it. Mailing the sample to the laboratory is free.
Participating in the screening at a health care facility is similar to a gynaecological examination.
During the test, sample material is taken with a small brush from the cervical mucosa and canal and the sample is subsequently analysed in a laboratory. The procedure is painless.
The sample cannot be taken during menstruation.
The most suitable time for giving the sample are days 10–20 of the cycle.
Do not take the home test sample during pregnancy or within three months after pregnancy.
You can get the HPV test during pregnancy at the midwife’s or gynaecologist’s, but please inform them of your condition.
If there are no dangerous virus strains found, the woman is not specifically notified of the test results.
Results of the exam are accessible via the Health Portal (subsection ‘Appointments and referrals’).
- If the test results are negative, you are expected to screening again in five years. If your health condition changes, you must see a physician.
- If the test result is positive, additional tests are needed. The presence of the virus does not mean a diagnosis of cancer or precancerous conditions. Additional testing is done in health care facilities listed on the website of the the Health Insurance Fund.
HPV vaccination
Vaccination will protect you against the most dangerous types of HPV which may cause cancer and genital warts in the genital area. Therefore, HPV vaccination is recommended for all young people from age 9.
As of 1 February 2024, girls and boys aged 12–18 are vaccinated for free as a part of the national immunisation schedule. It is recommended to start the vaccination as soon as possible, i.e. at age 12.
For more information, see here.
Frequently asked questions
Should I participate in the screening if I went to a gynaecologist last year?
Yes, you should, as during the screening, a HPV test is done once every 5 years, but your gynaecologist may not have done that specific test.
Shoud I participate in the screening if my uterus has been removed?
Yes, as the screening searches for HPV strains with a high cancer risk, which may cause other cancers of that region.
How can I permanently decline the cervical cancer screening invitation?
Can I get the screening during a scheduled gynaecologist’s appointment?
Yes, you can, but please inform while making the gynaecologist’s appointment that you wish to participate in screening.
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