Breaking the Silence: Why Cervical Screening Matters for South Asian Women in Midlife

For many South Asian women, midlife is a season of shifting roles – caring for ageing parents, navigating perimenopause, rethinking our purpose. But amidst these changes, one essential aspect of our well-being is often overlooked: cervical screening.

Cervical Screening Awareness Week (19th–24th June) is a vital reminder that preventative care saves lives. Yet in our communities, smear tests (also known as cervical screening) are often avoided due to fear, embarrassment, or cultural stigma.

It’s time we changed that.

Understanding Cervical Screening

Cervical screening isn’t a test for cancer. It’s a test that checks for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause abnormal changes to cells in the cervix. Detecting those changes early can prevent cervical cancer from ever developing.

But uptake remains significantly lower among South Asian women, particularly those over 40.

Why? Many reasons: modesty, fear of pain, lack of understanding, language barriers, or the deep-rooted belief that “it’s not relevant if I’m no longer sexually active.”

But these myths can be fatal.

HPV can be dormant for years. Cervical cancer doesn’t discriminate based on age. And midlife is not a time to ignore our gynaecological health – it’s a time to own it.

Midlife, Menopause & Cervical Health

The menopause transition brings hormonal shifts that can affect the cervix and vaginal tissues. Lower oestrogen levels can make smear tests more uncomfortable – but that doesn’t mean they’re not essential.

If you’re postmenopausal and experiencing discomfort, speak to your nurse about vaginal oestrogen treatments or using a smaller speculum. You deserve a pain-free, dignified experience.

Changing the Conversation

At The Sattva Collective, we’re committed to breaking cultural silence around intimate health. When one woman gets screened, she sets an example for her daughter, her sisters, and her friends.

Let’s normalise:

• Talking about smear tests at community events or women’s circles
• Attending appointments together as a support system
• Asking our GPs for culturally sensitive practitioners
• Saying: My body deserves care, no matter my age

Practical Steps

• Book your smear test if you’re aged 25–64 and overdue (every 3–5 years, depending on age)
• Request a female nurse and ask for adjustments if you’re perimenopausal or postmenopausal
• Use translation services if needed – language should never be a barrier to care
• Share your story with other women – it could save a life

Midlife is not a time to retreat from healthcare. It’s a time to rise into radical responsibility. Your life is precious, and early detection is one of the most powerful tools we have.