Third of women in their twenties not attending cervical smear tests

A third of women under 30 in Wales are not attending their regular cervical screenings, according to new research.

Public Health Wales has launched a new campaign to encourage more women to book a smear test.

The findings by Cervical Screening Wales suggest women that attend their first cervical screening, or smear test, when they are 25 are more likely to attend in the future.

Women aged 25 to 49 years are invited for a smear test every threeyears - with women over 50 are invited very five years.

Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer in women under 35 years old.

The death of TV reality personality Jade Goody in 2009 saw requests for cervical screening, particularly among young women in the UK, increase significantly.

This trend, known as the 'Jade Goody effect' has declined in the last decade to a 20-year-low, with government campaigns launching across the UK in an attempt to raise awareness.

Cervical Screening Wales hope the campaign will encourage women to be "more body-positive".

Louise Dunk, Head of Programmes for the group, said issues around "embarrassment and body shame" are reasons regularly given for why women are not attending their cervical screening

Find out what actually happens during a smear test:

The #loveyour cervix campaign is part of a growing movement to raise awareness of cervical cancer, and break down the stigma around cervical screening.

Read more: Salon offering free waxes to women if they book a smear test to raise awareness