A Member of the Senedd has spoken of her own experiences as she backs Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.

In response to concerns about the routine changes in cervical screening from three to five years, MS Hannah Blythyn is highlighting the importance of attending screening appointments and having a smear test.

The Delyn MS said: "I have personally benefited from cervical screening and subsequent treatment, so I do understand that concerns that constituents may have over these changes.

"The focus this week, and every week, needs to be encouraging women and people with a cervix to take up screening appointments when they are offered to them."

Cervical screening now tests for HPV infections before any other abnormalities, due to HPV causing almost all cervical cancers. Due to the accuracy of the HPV testing it has been determined that routine screening can be extended from three to five years.

An individual's screening results which will then recommend another screening in one, three or five years, or referral for an immediate colposcopy.

Though the routine screening has been extended there remains an individualised approach to treating everyone based on their own circumstances, risks and results.

Each year Jo's Trust run an awareness campaign in January to highlight the importance of screening and preventing cervical cancer wherever possible.

You can find out more information at www.jostrust.org.uk or at http://www.cervicalscreeningwales.wales.nhs.uk/home

Public Health Wales issued an apology after the initial announcement of the change in screenings from every three years to every five, saying in a tweet that they, "haven't done enough to explain the changes to cervical screening and have caused concern."

A petition to the Senedd to change the screening back to three years is now being considered after it passed the threshold for debate within two days with 30,000 signatures.