Cervical cancer screening
Detected early, treated more easily.
Screening is important
Screening is an easy way to detect cell changes before they develop into cancer. In Finland, screening has reduced the incidence of cervical cancer by 80 percent. Screening is part of your local wellbeing services county’s healthcare. The screening examination is voluntary and free of charge.
Who is it for?
Cervical cancer screening is offered every five years to women aged 30–65 (in some wellbeing services counties also to those aged 25). In addition, screening is arranged for individuals in these age groups whose legal gender has been confirmed as male, based on their sex assigned at birth.
Invitation to screening
You will receive a personal invitation letter primarily in electronic form, either via Suomi.fi or OmaPosti message (read more about digital messages). If you have not yet activated electronic services, the invitation will be sent to your home as a paper letter.
Contact our customer service if:
- You are of screening age but have not received an invitation by the end of September in the screening year.
- You have moved to Fimlab’s screening area during the year and received an invitation from your previous municipality, but wish to attend the screening at Fimlab according to your new municipality.
- Your sex assigned at birth is female, but your legal gender has been confirmed as male. Screening invitations are based on the gender marker in the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
- You have an active non-disclosure for personal safety reasons (turvakielto).
In all of the above cases, we kindly ask you to contact Fimlab’s customer service to ensure your participation in the screening.
How is cervical cancer screened?
Between 70–80% of Finnish women will contract a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection at some point in their lives. During screening, a cell sample is taken from the cervix. The sample is tested for high-risk HPV. If the result is positive, a so-called Pap smear is also performed. The gynaecological cytology test, or Pap smear, can detect cellular changes that indicate precancerous stages, and the development of cervical cancer can thus be prevented through treatment.
Follow these steps when you receive an invitation
- Book an appointment: fimlab.fi/en/appointmentbooking (available 24/7) or by calling 010 808 515 on weekdays between 7 and 16.
- Review or complete the preliminary information form at the back of the invitation; you will be asked about these details during the sample collection.
Please note the following:
- The sample cannot be taken while you are on your period.
- If you are pregnant and the pregnancy is progressing normally, the screening can be done up to week 35.
- If you have recently given birth, ask your maternity/child health clinic for instructions.
- If you are using any local treatment, such as vaginal suppositories, do not use them the day before or on the day of sample collection.
- Possible hormone replacement therapy does not need to be discontinued.
- Having had a hysterectomy is not a barrier to sample collection.
- By participating in the screening, you consent to the processing of your personal data so that the examination can be carried out. If the result requires further investigation, your data may be forwarded to specialised medical care.
Examination results
You will receive information about your examination result from Fimlab within two months of the sample being taken. The information will primarily be delivered electronically (read more about digital messages). If you have not yet enabled electronic services, the result will be sent to your home by post.
If the findings require further examinations, Fimlab will automatically issue a referral for specialised medical care – you will be informed of this along with your examination result.
Contact information regarding screening
Please contact Fimlab’s customer advice service if you have questions about the schedule of the screening invitation or result.
If you would like more information about the content of your screening result or anything else related to the screening examination in your municipality (e.g. follow-up care), please contact your local health centre or the screening contact person in your municipality:
- Kanta-Häme
- Central Ostrobothnia
- Central Finland
- Lapland
- Pirkanmaa
- Ostrobothnia
- Northern Ostrobothnia
- Päijät-Häme
- Satakunta
Data collection for the Finnish Cancer Registry’s Mass Screening Registry
The Mass Screening Registry maintained by the Cancer Society of Finland holds information on individuals invited to screening. Based on this data, Fimlab sends screening invitations to eligible participants.
Fimlab provides a summary of the cervical cancer screening examinations it has conducted to the Mass Screening Registry of the Finnish Cancer Registry. The registry collects data on mass screening activities across Finland. The data collection is based on legislation.
In addition, a summary of the screening examinations is sent to the municipality that ordered the service (individual examination results are not included in the summary provided to municipalities).
More information on screenings
More information about Finland’s screening programme for the adult population:
HPV self-sampling
In 2025, the Wellbeing Services Counties of Pirkanmaa, Kanta-Häme, Central Finland, Ostrobothnia and Päijät-Häme will conduct a study on HPV self-sampling with voluntary participants. In this study, the participants will collect a sample by themselves at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Participation in screenings is not compulsory, but we encourage you to attend. Screenings, or mass screenings, aim to find cancer as early as possible, making it much easier to treat. Found early, treated more easily.
Read more:
If you want more information about your results or other matters related to screening in the municipality of your residence, you can contact your health centre or the contact person in the municipality of your residence.
Cervical cancer screening
Read more:
Colorectal cancer screening:
Read more:
Do not worry; you will receive a new invitation in the mail.
