Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust Helpline

If you have a question, want reliable information or just need to hear a friendly voice our free helpline is here for you.

Call us on 0808 802 8000

No question is too big or small and you can call about yourself, a family member or a friend. If you aren’t sure what your cervical screening (smear test) results mean, are feeling worried about symptoms or are trying to come to terms with a recent diagnosis then we’re here. We can talk you through the next steps, help you find support and just listen.

You can email us too

Sometimes it’s easier to write down your feelings and questions. You can email our Ask the Expert service with the same questions or concerns whether that’s about cervical screening, HPV, cell changes or cervical cancer.

Submit your question through our online form and it will be assessed by a member of our experienced Jo’s Team. Depending on the type of question, they will provide you with the information you are looking for or they will anonymise your query (remove any personal details) and send it to an appropriate member of our medical panel. You’ll receive the same confidential and professional support as you would if you called in. You can also use this service if the Helpline is busy or closed. Follow the link below to find out more about the Ask the Expert service or email us your question.

Helpline opening times

You may e-mail the helpline at any time and someone will respond within 3-5 days. 

Opening hours for the phone line depend on the availability of our amazing volunteers. Please check regularly as times may change. If the lines aren’t open or you can’t get through to us on the phone, you can submit a question on our Ask the Expert service.

Please note - the helpline can only accept calls made from within the UK. 

Who will I speak to?

Our helpline calls and emails are completely confidential and are answered by fully trained members of staff or volunteers.

Staff at Jo’s have a range of professional backgrounds and expertise and have been trained to support people with questions relating to cervical health.

All of our volunteers have personal or professional experience of cervical cancer or cervical cell changes (abnormal cells).

What can I contact the helpline about?

People contact our helpline for lots of different reasons, including:

• To find out more about HPV.
• Questions about smear tests and results.
• Parents wanting to know more about the HPV vaccination.
• Queries about what to expect at colposcopy or to talk through a diagnosis of cervical cell changes (abnormal cells).
• Calls from women who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer, and their loved ones, about everything from treatment options and fertility to coping with life after cancer.

Please do be aware that we are separate to the NHS and do not provide cervical screening. We are unable to help with booking cervical screening appointments or advise on waiting times for results.

Interested in becoming a helpliner?

Watch our video to find out more about how our helpline is run and visit the link below for more information about volunteering.

Find out about being a helpline volunteer >

We are grateful to the British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology for their continued support of our Helpline.  

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust is a member of The Helplines Partnership.