Chloe Delevingne takes smear test on live TV to encourage women to get tested

Young women put off taking their tests because they feel embarrassed

Chloe Delevingne took a smear test on live TV to show women just how easy the 30-second screening can be in a bid to motivate those who feel too embarrassed or afraid to attend their appointments.

The NHS advises women between the ages of 25 and 40 to have a cervical smear test every three years, but surveys show that cervical screening rates are at their lowest in two decades.

A screening can detect whether or not a woman has abnormal cells in her cervix that could lead to cervical cancer, which is more common in younger women.

The 33-year-old, who previously had a cervical cancer scare herself, wanted to combat some of the stigma surrounding cervical smears and took the test on the Victoria Derbyshire programme on Friday.

“It’s not painful,” Delevingne said as London-based GP Dr Philippa Kaye carried out the test.

“It’s weird – it’s a bit of an odd feeling,” she added, but did not appear to grimace or look as if she was feeling uncomfortable.

Dr Kaye explained that if a patient is feeling particularly nervous, there are a number of different positions in which the test can be taken, which Delevingne demonstrated.

During a smear test, which can be carried out at your GP practice or at a sexual health clinic, women are asked to undress from the waist down and lie down with their legs open.

The nurse will then gently insert an instrument called a speculum into the vagina that holds the walls of the vagina open so the cervix can be seen.

They will then use a small soft brush to collect cells from the surface of your cervix, which will be tested for abnormalities.

Once women reach the age of 50, the NHS advises them to have smear tests every five years until the turn 64.

There are roughly 3,000 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed each year in the UK.