Cervical cancer: the symptoms and signs

The most common symptom of cervical cancer is vaginal bleeding that’s unusual for you. The NHS lists four symptoms:

• unusual vaginal bleeding: during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or periods that are heavier than usual
• changes to your vaginal discharge
• pain during sex
• pain: in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis) or in your lower tummy

Early cervical cancer often has no symptoms at all. Cancer Research UK says the cell changes that come before cancer don’t cause symptoms either, which is why cervical screening matters.

If cervical cancer spreads, the symptoms depend on where it has spread to. They can include tiredness, tummy pain, bloating, constipation and swelling in the legs.

See a doctor if you have any of these symptoms, even if your last screening result was normal. The NHS says not to wait for your next cervical screening appointment, because screening is designed for people without symptoms.

The NHS also says these symptoms are very common and don’t definitely mean you have cancer. If cancer is the cause, though, finding it early means treatment is more likely to work.

• what the doctor may do: ask about your symptoms, examine you and look at your cervix. You can ask for a female doctor
• if cancer is suspected: in England, NHS England’s guidance says you should be seen for a colposcopy, a closer look at your cervix, within 2 weeks of being referred
• bleeding after the menopause: the NHS says you shouldn’t have to wait more than 2 weeks to see a specialist
• the likely result: Cancer Research UK says more than 9 in 10 people with an urgent suspected cancer referral don’t have cancer

Other causes are much more common than cancer. NHS England’s guidance says most bleeding after sex isn’t caused by cancer, and that in younger people Chlamydia or problems with contraception are more likely.

The NHS lists these among the causes of the same symptoms:

• STIs: Chlamydia can cause bleeding after sex or between periods, and discharge with pelvic pain or bleeding can be a sign of Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea
• hormonal contraception: such as the contraceptive pill
• changes to the surface of the cervix: called cervical ectropion, which Cancer Research UK says is harmless
• small growths: polyps on the cervix, or polyps and fibroids in the womb
• vaginal dryness

An STI test can find or rule out an infection, but it can’t tell you what else might be causing your symptoms. The NHS says to get any unusual bleeding checked by a doctor every time. If you’ve recently missed a period and have unusual bleeding with pain in your tummy, get urgent medical care, because the NHS says this could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by a long-lasting infection with a high-risk type of HPV. Cancer Research UK puts the figure at 99.7%.

• how you get HPV: through skin-to-skin contact of the genital area, vaginal, anal or oral sex, and sharing sex toys
• how common it is: very. The NHS says most people will get some type of HPV in their life
• what usually happens: the body clears the virus within 2 years, and it causes no problems
• when it becomes a risk: if a high-risk type stays in the body, it can cause changes to the cells of the cervix. The World Health Organization (WHO) says it usually takes 15 to 20 years for abnormal cells to become cancer

The NHS says you may also be more likely to get cervical cancer if you smoke or have a weakened immune system.

A positive HPV result isn’t a sign that anyone has been unfaithful. The NHS says you can have HPV for many years without knowing. Read more in “Can I get reinfected with HPV?”

There are around 3,300 new cases of cervical cancer in the UK each year, and around 880 deaths. It’s most common in women in their 30s, but it can happen at any age.

The figures from Cancer Research UK also show how much has changed:

• rates of new cases have fallen by a quarter since the early 1990s
• death rates have fallen by three quarters since the early 1970s
• almost 2 in 3 women diagnosed with cervical cancer survive for 10 years or more

In 2023, NHS England set out to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, through HPV vaccination and screening.

Cervical screening isn’t a test for cancer. It’s a test to help prevent it. The sample is checked for high-risk HPV first. If HPV is found, the same sample is checked for changes in the cells of your cervix, which can be treated before they turn into cancer.

• England, Scotland and Wales: women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 are invited every 5 years
• Northern Ireland: every 3 years from 25 to 49, and every 5 years from 50 to 64

In England, the results look like this:

• around 87 in 100: no HPV found
• around 9 in 100: HPV found, but no cell changes
• around 4 in 100: HPV found with cell changes, so a closer look at the cervix is needed

Read more in “Do you need a smear test if you are still a virgin?”

It prevents most cases. In England, cervical cancer rates were almost 90% lower in women in their 20s who had been offered the vaccine at 12 to 13, compared with women who hadn’t been vaccinated.

• who is offered it: all children aged 12 to 13, in school year 8
• if you missed it: the NHS offers it up to your 25th birthday, to all girls and to boys born on or after 1 September 2006
• if you’ve had it: the NHS says it’s still important to go for cervical screening, because the vaccine doesn’t protect against every type of HPV

The main test is a colposcopy, a closer look at your cervix. A microscope with a light is used to look at the cervix, and it stays outside your body. A small sample of cells may be taken and sent to a laboratory. The NHS says that most of the time a colposcopy doesn’t find cervical cancer.

If cancer is found, treatment depends on its size and type, where it is and whether it has spread. It usually includes surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The NHS says cervical cancer is often treatable, and that treatment is more likely to work when it’s found early.

If you have symptoms, see a doctor first. If you don’t, and you’d like to check your cervical health or rule out an STI, Better2Know offers:

• PAP Smear and HPV Testing for Women: a sample from your cervix, checked for cell changes and tested for types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer, with results in 5 days. You can book it at one of our clinics.
• HPV home test: for women and people with a cervix, a vaginal swab you take yourself that checks for 14 high-risk types of HPV, with results in 3 days. It can’t check your cells, so if it finds high-risk HPV, the next step is a cervical screening test.
• Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea (Vaginal Swab): for women, a swab you take yourself at a clinic or during a nurse visit, from 14 days after sex, with results in 2 days.

An HPV test isn’t a test for cancer, and a positive result is common: in England, around 13 in 100 screening tests find high-risk HPV. A private test doesn’t replace NHS cervical screening, and the NHS says to try not to put screening off, because it’s one of the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer. Not sure which test you need? Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Can you have cervical cancer with no symptoms?

Yes. Early cervical cancer often has no symptoms, and neither do the cell changes that come before it. That’s why cervical screening is offered to people who feel well.

Is bleeding after sex always a sign of cancer?

No. NHS England’s guidance says most bleeding after sex isn’t caused by cancer, and that Chlamydia or problems with contraception are more likely in younger people. It still needs checking by a doctor.

Can you get cervical cancer under 25?

It’s very rare. The NHS says cervical cancer is very rare in people under 25, which is one reason screening starts at 25. Symptoms at any age still need checking.

The symptoms and signs of cervical cancer are unusual vaginal bleeding, changes to your discharge, pain during sex and pain in your lower back, pelvis or lower tummy. They usually have another cause, but they always need checking by a doctor. Cervical cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers, thanks to the HPV vaccine and cervical screening.

If you have no symptoms and want to check your cervical health, book PAP Smear and HPV Testing for Women at a clinic near you, or order an HPV home test. Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Not in the UK? Choose your country from the selector at the top of the page for local tests and prices.

This article originally appeared on 20 January 2019 and was last updated on 3 October 2026.

This article is general information and not a substitute for personal medical advice.

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