The National Screening Unit is asking all mothers, wives, grandmothers, daughters and sisters to think about the ones they love and have a smear test.

September marks Cervical Screening Awareness Month and the NSU is encouraging Kiwi women that for themselves, their families and their loved ones – it's worth putting their health first.

September is Cervical Screening Awareness Month and the National Screening Unit is encouraging all Kiwi women to do 'the best not nice thing' and get a smear test. Image: NSU

NSU clinical director Dr Jane O'Hallahan says while a smear isn't necessarily something women look forward to – it can save your life.

'We recommend screening every three years to pick up changes early on and reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer,” says Dr O'Hallahan.

'Having regular smears means any abnormal cells will be detected and treated early on, before they become cancerous.”

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable of all cancers and screening women every three years can reduce the risk of developing it by up to 90 per cent.

Smears are screening tests to find abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus which most people come into contact with at some stage in their life.

Most HPV infections clear by themselves, but some high-risk types can cause cell changes on the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer 10 to 20 years after infection.

'Abnormal changes in the cervix as a result of HPV happen very slowly. Regular smears mean there's a high likelihood that abnormal cells will be found and treated before they become cancer.

'Women who have had the HPV vaccine should also remember to have regular cervical smears.”

Screening every three years is recommended for women aged 20 to 70 years, who have ever been sexually active.

For more information about the National Screening Unit and Cervical Screening Awareness Month visit: www.nsu.govt.nz/national-cervical-screening-programme

Women can find out when their next smear is due by calling their GP or Freephone 0800-729-729.