Rhian Sugden says smear test found abnormal cells and she is awaiting colposcopy

Glamour model Rhian Sugden said she is awaiting a colposcopy after a recent cervical screening test detected abnormal cells, and used social media to urge others not to delay their smears.

Sugden, 38, posted on Instagram that she received the results on Tuesday and was placed on a waiting list for further assessment, writing that she was "secretly freaking out" and describing a "full meltdown". She said she had undergone similar investigations in her early 20s and needed treatment then.

"Always been the one banging on about 'don't fear the smear' as it's only five minutes that could save your life," Sugden wrote. "But today… I'm eating my words. I've just my results back this morning from my latest smear and they've found abnormal cells and I'm secretly freaking out. Now I'm on a waiting list for a colposcopy appointment (hello endless NHS waiting lists)." She added that she wanted to share the update to encourage others to keep up with screening and signed off with the hashtags #SmearOvershare and #DontFearTheSmear.

Cervical screening in the United Kingdom primarily tests for human papillomavirus (HPV), the sexually transmitted virus that is the precursor to the vast majority of cervical cancers. If HPV is detected, laboratory analysis looks for abnormalities in cervical cells under a microscope; if those abnormalities are found, patients are referred for a colposcopy, a closer clinical examination of the cervix that can include taking a small biopsy.

Medical experts stress that most HPV infections are transient and harmless, and that only a small number of the roughly 150 known HPV strains are associated with the cellular changes that can lead to cancer. Public-health vaccination programmes have been in place since 2008 for girls aged around 13, with boys added to the routine programme in 2019, to reduce the risk of HPV infection and subsequent cervical disease.

A colposcopy allows clinicians to visualise the cervix with magnification, apply diagnostic solutions, and, when necessary, take targeted biopsies or perform treatment such as large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ). Many referrals for colposcopy do not end in a cancer diagnosis; they allow clinicians to identify and treat pre-cancerous changes early, when intervention is most effective.

Sugden also referred to practical frustrations in her social-media post, mentioning the wait for an NHS appointment. NHS waiting times for non-urgent procedures and diagnostic appointments have been a subject of ongoing public and political attention; clinicians and health services say prioritisation is based on clinical urgency.

The model, who has recently spoken publicly about other health-related procedures including a breast reduction this year, said she wanted to normalise talking about screening despite feeling anxious. "I know this is exactly why smear tests are important, so they catch things early, but right now I'm stressed out and just needed to share. If you've been putting yours off, book it. We can be scared and still show up for ourselves," she wrote.

Health organisations recommend that people eligible for cervical screening attend when invited and contact their healthcare provider if they have symptoms such as unusual bleeding or persistent pelvic pain. Screening programmes, vaccination and timely follow-up investigations such as colposcopy together aim to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer by detecting and treating pre-cancerous changes before they progress.