March into wellbeing with essential health admin- column by Paloma Diaz-Estevez

Life is busy, and unfortunately, we women tend to concentrate on others and often we run out of time and mental bandwidth to look after ourselves. We ensure children are fed, watered, and ready for school or nursery. We look after other family members, our parents, our partners, and sometimes their parents too (feel free to list anyone else, that matches your circumstances, including pets).

I work for Greater Lincolnshire Sexual Health Service (GLiSH), which is run by Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust. This month, I want to ask all women to do one thing for their health. International HPV Awareness Day was on 4 March. Some types of human papillomavirus (HPV) can significantly increase the risk of cervical cancer in women and people who have a womb. HPV also increases the risk of other cancers.

One thing we women can do for ourselves is to book a cervical screening (smear test) when the letter arrives.  You can do it with your GP practice, or a GLiSH clinic. We offer extended opening hours, so you may be able to be seen later in the day if you can’t get to your GP surgery. Check our website for the list of sexual health clinics in the county: www.greaterlincolnshiresexualhealth.nhs.uk.

As part of the national screening programme, eligible people between the ages of 25-64 are asked to book an appointment to check the health of their cervix, which is the lower part of the womb. This test is not to diagnose cervical cancer but to help prevent it.

The cervical screening checks a sample of cells for the “high-risk” types of HPV, which may lead to cancer. For most women, the screening will show that everything is fine, but for 1 in 20, there may be some changes in the cells. Most of these changes can be treated and will not lead to cervical cancer.

Cervical screening is a simple and quick procedure. It can prevent up to 75% of instances of cervical cancer and save around 5,000 lives a year.

And if you’re up to date with your smear test, please remember that GLiSH sexual health service is here to support you with any questions you may have about contraception, emergency contraception, sexually transmitted infections testing and treatment, family planning, and much more.

It’s easy to keep putting your wellbeing on the back burner. So, in March, I ask women to get on top of their life admin and do one thing for their health.