International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Cervical cancer screening in the UK has hit a ten-year low.

According to new figures from Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, 20 per cent of British women are not being tested.

One in three under the age of 35 are  not attending smear tests, while screening rates for women over 50 fell below 80 per cent in 2010 and even further last year.

The charity stated that some women delay tests due to work commitments while others are unaware of the causes and symptoms of cervical cancer and do not believe that the disease is relevant to them.

It is estimated that screening saves around 5,000 lives a year in the UK, but the disease still claims three lives every day.

Robert Music, the Trust's Director, said greater awareness of the benefits of screening were needed while anything which stressed the importance of this life-saving test would have a positive effect.

"Adverts urging eligible women to get screened will adorn buses across London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester, reaching a potential 5.5 million people," he added.

Posted by Alexandra George