Cervical screening was transferred to healthcare centers nationwide from the The Icelandic Cancer Society in the year 2020/2021 and at the same time screening for the human Papillomavirus (HPV) virus was introduced, which is the cause of over 90% of cervical cancers. The goal of screening is to detect and treat pre-cancerous cell changes if necessary, and thus reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer.

All individuals who have a cervix and have had sex, regardless of gender and the gender of the partner, should be screened regularly for cervical cancer according to the screening guidelines of the Directorate of Health. It is recommended that individuals from 23 years of age, without symptoms, be screened regularly for cervical cancer.

Did you get an invitation to a screening or do you want to get screened?

If you received a letter of invitation recently or chose not to use the last invitation you received, we recommend you make an appointment at your healthcare centre either on My pages on Heilsuvera.is or by calling the healthcare centre. At HSN's facilities in Sauðárkrókur, Dalvík, Fjallabyggð, Akureyri and Húsavík, specially trained midwives and nurses will welcome you all year round.

"The attendance rate for cervical screening in North Iceland has been quite good in recent years, but we can do even better. We encourage regular screening as a preventive measure - don't wait to make an appointment," says nurse/midwife Hulda Pétursdóttir, project manager for cervical screening at HSN.

When is it desirable for me to come for screening and how do I know when I went last?

If you are not sure when you last went to see a doctor, you can search for information on “My pages” on Heilsuvera.is under Medical records - Screening history.

It is aimed at women between the ages of 23-29 being offered screening for cervical cancer every three years and women between the ages of 30-64 being offered screening every five years, in accordance with screening guidelines of the Directorate of Health. Non-binary and transsexuals with a cervix are also encouraged to book an appointment if an invitation has not been received.

What if I don't have a cervix but still got a letter of invitation?

If a cervix has been removed, it is best to contact the Coordination centre for cancer screenings and see if there is a need for continued screening. Experts there will assess based on the patient’s medical history and the reason for the cervix removal, whether the screening needs to continue.

What is HPV?

HPV is a virus that has many subtypes. Only a few are carcinogenic, but others can cause genital warts, for example. HPV infection is usually asymptomatic and transmitted through sexual intercourse regardless of the gender of the partner and is a very common infection especially in young people. It is only in cases where the infection is chronic or the immune system is not strong enough that it can start to cause harm and cause cell changes. Cell changes can then eventually turn into cancer if nothing is done, but the process from infection to cancer usually takes about 10-15 years. However, the body usually gets rid of the virus as with any other viral infection, but this takes different amounts of time (up to 2 years), but vaccination against HPV can speed this process up.

Mild cell changes can be reversible if your body is able to get rid of the HPV virus. If you are diagnosed with HPV in a screening, you will be promptly checked and will be recalled every 6-12 months until either you are freed of the virus or you start to get cell changes, and then you will be promptly treated for further tests and treatment if needed.

Since the autumn of 2023, all children in the 7th grade of primary school have been offered vaccination against the HPV virus regardless of gender at no cost. Others who choose to receive this vaccination can submit it to a GP at their healthcare center, but must then pay for the vaccine themselves.

Costs to come for screening?

Since the health care service took over cervical screening, arrival fee is only 500 ISK, and those who have reached the payment limit do not pay arrival fee or for the sample.

How does cervical screening take place and what happens to the sample?

At HSN Healthcare Centers, specially trained midwives and nurses take samples from the cervix, but sampling only takes a short time. When this is completed, the samples are sent to the Coordination centre for cancer screenings, which oversees screenings and records and reviews the samples. The laboratory of the National University Hospital is responsible for examining and analyzing the samples. When this is completed, the Coordination Centre reviews all the results and sends the answers out to patients through Heilsuvera and Ísland.is This process usually takes about 2-4 weeks from sampling.

Who follows up on the results of the study?

The Coordination centre for cancer screenings, follows up on all samples and calls in clients as needed and procedures dictate. The centre also receives inquiries from clients regarding the samples and the results if any. It also follows up and treats individuals who need further diagnosis and monitoring due to certain cell changes in the cervix in cooperation with the Women's Department of the National University Hospital of Iceland and the Women's Department of the Akureyri Hospital.

For more information on cervical screening, please visit:

Directorate of Health's brochure on cervical screening