Take your health into your own hands and choose the self-collection option to screen for cervical cancer

Did you know that you can now take your own cervical screening sample? The test is free, easy and reliable.

With the self-collection method you can take your own vaginal sample with a swab and without a speculum. The sample looks for HPV – finding HPV early is your best protection against cervical cancer. Self-collection is just as accurate at detecting HPV as a Cervical Screening Test taken by your doctor or nurse.

This test is done at the doctor’s or other health setting, usually in private behind a screen or in the bathroom. It is painless, easy and reliable.

You may be currently eligible for self-collection if you:

are aged 30 years and over
are overdue for a Cervical Screening Test by two years or more
have no symptoms (like unexplained bleeding).

You can talk to your doctor or nurse about self-collection and find out if you are eligible.

Find a GP or Nurse Cervical Screening Provider near you

How to do the test in 4 simple steps

	Step 1 Twist the red cap and pull out the swab Look at the swab and note the red mark closest to the tip.
	Step 2 Get in a comfortable position. Insert the swab into your vagina, aiming to insert to the red mark. It may be easier to use your other hand to hold the outer skin at the entrance of your vagina.
	Step 3 Rotate the swab gently one to three times. It should not hurt.
	Step 4 Remove the swab and place back in the tube.

Download our postcard Choose the self-collection method to screen for cervical cancer

Is self-collection as accurate as a traditional Cervical Screening Test?

A self-collected test is just as effective at detecting HPV as a practitioner-collected Cervical Screening Test.

Your GP or Nurse Cervical Screening Provider will explain how to do the self-collected test. It is a simple, reliable test.

If you are interested in self-collection, it is important that you speak to your GP or Nurse Cervical Screening Provider about your eligibility.

Cancer information
- Cancer information
- What is cancer?
  - What is cancer?
    Where cancer starts, how it spreads, common risk factors and symptoms.
- Types of cancer
  - Types of cancer
    Explore our A-Z list of cancer types, with information on diagnosis and treatment.
- Treatments
- Rare and less common cancers
  - Rare and less common cancers
    A cancer is rare or less common when it only affects a small number of people.
- Advanced cancer
- Genetics and risk
- Children, teens and young adults
Managing daily life
- Managing daily life
- Common side effects
- Emotions
  - Emotions
    It is normal to experience a range of emotions when you have cancer.
- Grief
  - Grief
    Grief is the process of responding to loss and it can affect all parts of your life.
- Nutrition
  - Nutrition
    Eating well is beneficial during and after cancer treatment.
- Exercise
  - Exercise
    Aerobic, strength, flexibility and pelvic floor exercises for people with cancer.
- Cancer and pregnancy
  - Cancer and pregnancy
    Being diagnosed with cancer while you are pregnant is rare, but it can happen.
- Sexuality and intimacy
  - Sexuality and intimacy
    Cancer may affect the role sexuality and intimacy play in your life.
- Learning to relax
  - Learning to relax
    Coping with cancer is challenging and it is important to look after yourself.
- Life after treatment
  - Life after treatment
    You may continue to face challenges even after cancer treatment has ended.
- Holidays and travel
  - Special occasions and celebrations
  - Travel insurance and cancer
Get support
- Get support
- Cancer and COVID-19
  - Cancer and COVID-19
    Learn about cancer and COVID-19, and updates about our support services.
- Contact cancer support
  - Contact cancer support
    Speak to our trusted and compassionate cancer nurses on 13 11 20 or via email.
- Facing end of life
  - Facing end of life
    Information on dealing with, planning for and looking after somone at the end of life.
- Caring for someone with cancer
  - Caring for someone with cancer
    Caring can be rewarding but also challenging, both physically and emotionally.
- Wig service
- Connect and learn
- Financial and legal
  - Financial and legal
    Information and support programs related to legal and financial matters.
- Work
  - Work
    Information for employees and employers.
- Holiday break program
  - Holiday break program
    Free short breaks for those affected by cancer and their families.
- Cancer services guide
  - Cancer services guide
    A guide to support services available to Victorians affected by cancer.
- LGBTIQ+ communities
  - LGBTIQ+ communities
    Cancer information and support services for LGBTIQ+ communities.
- Aboriginal communities
  - Aboriginal communities
    Cancer information and support services for Victorian Aboriginal communities.
Prevention
- Prevention
- Get checked
- Limit alcohol
- Be a healthy weight
  - Be a healthy weight
    Convincing evidence links obesity to various cancers.
- Eat a healthy diet
  - Eat a healthy diet
    We recommend a healthy body weight, regular exercise and a healthy diet.
- Be SunSmart
  - Be SunSmart
    It's preventable but nearly 2,000 Australians die of skin cancer each year.
- Quit smoking
  - Quit smoking
    Each year 15,000 Australians are diagnosed with smoking-related cancer.
- Be physically active
  - Be physically active
    Evidence links physical activity to reduced breast and colon cancer risk.
- Workplaces
  - Workplaces
    Tips to cut your cancer risk in the workplace.
Research
- Research
- Research news
  - Research news
    Get the latest cancer research news.
- Research grants
- Clinical Trials
  - Clinical Trials
    Find out how we help patients access clinical trials.
- Search our research
  - Search our research
    Search the vast number of projects we've been involved in over the years.
- Meet our researchers
  - Meet our researchers
    Team of researchers who have expanded our understanding of cancer.
- Our Forgotten Cancers Program
  - Our Forgotten Cancers Program
    Improving survival for less common and low survival cancers.
- Research ethics and guidelines
  - Research ethics and guidelines
    Learn about our research ethics and research practice guidelines.
- Research integrity
  - Research integrity
    Principles for the responsible and ethical conduct of research.
- McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer
  - McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer
    Find out how we use the law to prevent cancer and to protect people affected by it.
- Victorian Cancer Registry
- Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer
- Cancer Epidemiology Division
Get involved
- Get involved
- Donate
- Leave a gift in your Will
  - Leave a gift in your Will
    A gift of hope for generations to come.
- Fundraise
- Volunteer with us
  - Volunteer with us
    Join the fight against cancer and volunteer with us.
- Community engagement
  - Community engagement
    Share your story to help others, give back and be heard.
- Give a major gift
  - Give a major gift
    Learn more about philanthropy at Cancer Council Victoria.
- Become a corporate supporter
  - Become a corporate supporter
    There are many ways corporates can support our work.
- Honour your loved one
  - Honour your loved one
    Create a lasting space to remember your loved one or give in memory.
- Give in celebration
  - Give in celebration
    Make a lasting contribution when you celebrate your next special occasion.
- Donate a holiday
  - Donate a holiday
    Give a cancer patient some time away in your holiday home.
- Shop online
  - Shop online
    Cancer Council's online store offers ultimate sun protection solutions.
Health professionals
- Health professionals
- Cancer and COVID-19
  - Cancer and COVID-19
    Learn about cancer and COVID-19, and support services for your patients.
- News
  - News
    Read our latest news for health professionals.
- Cancer support referral
  - Cancer support referral
    Request a call back from a cancer nurse for one of your patients or carers.
- Order free publications
  - Order free publications
    Order a limited number of our free booklets and brochures.
- Education and training
- Cervical screening providers
  - Cervical screening providers
    Information for Nurse Cervical Screening providers.
- Optimal Care Pathways
  - Optimal Care Pathways
    The Optimal Care Pathways (formerly Patient Management Frameworks) were developed to provide a consistent statewide approach to care management in each tumour stream.
- ACCESS Project
  - ACCESS Project
    A project to improve access to supportive care for people affected by cancer.
- Clinical Network
  - Clinical Network
    Network of specialist health care professionals.
- Community health
  - Community health
    Resources and support for Community Health Professionals.
- Clinical practice guides
  - Clinical practice guides
    Medical guides for specific cancers.
- Financial and legal referrals
  - Financial Counselling Program
  - Pro Bono Services
- Resources for dietitians
  - Resources for dietitians
    To support nutritional management of oncology patients.
- General practice
  - General practice
    Resources and support for general practice.
- Cancer counselling service
  - Cancer counselling service
    Free, short-term phone counselling service to help your patients.
About us
- About us
- Contact us
  - Contact us
    Addresses, phone numbers, parking and public transport information.
- What we do
  - What we do
    Our strategic plan, outlining our mission, values, goals and priorities.
- Latest news and stories
  - Latest news and stories
    News from Cancer Council Victoria and stories of those affected by cancer.
- Where the money goes
  - Where the money goes
    See what we spent our money on in 2020.
- Work with us
  - Job vacancies
  - Volunteer with us
- Media releases
  - Media releases
    Latest media releases and contacts for media liaison.
- Policy and Advocacy
  - Policy and Advocacy
    Influencing law and policy to improve cancer outcomes for all Victorians.
- Governance
- Publications and videos
  - Newsletters
- Annual reviews
- Our history
  - Our history
    Snapshots of people and events from our long history.
- Culturally diverse communities
  - Culturally diverse communities
    We work to reduce the impact of cancer in diverse communities.
- Melbourne retail store
  - Melbourne retail store
    Our Melbourne-based retail shop is now permanently closed. To purchase our products, visit www.cancercouncilshop.org.au.
More
- More

Take your health into your own hands and choose the self-collection option to screen for cervical cancer

How to do the test in 4 simple steps

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Is self-collection as accurate as a traditional Cervical Screening Test?

What is HPV and how does it cause cervical cancer?

Self-collection FAQs

Choose your cervical screening provider

At Your Cervix podcast

Screening Resources Hub: Cervical screening and HPV

Self-collection stakeholder toolkit

Questions about cancer?