A new survey has found that one in five women in Ireland have never had a cervical smear test.
The research conducted by the Irish Cancer Society found that 20 per cent of women had never been tested for cervical cancer and that only 10 per cent know that not having regular smear tests might contribute to them getting cervical cancer.
Cervical screening prevents the development of cervical cancer because it recognises a pre-cancer state in the cervix.
In addition, the research found that only 20 per cent of women claim to be aware of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), which most sexually active women are exposed to and which is the major risk factor for developing cervical cancer.
The lack of female doctors was cited as a barrier to having a test by 20 per cent of respondents who had never had cervical screening.
The Irish Cancer Society is reminding all women aged 25 or older, who have been or are sexually active and who may have never had a smear test or if it has been longer than three years, to make an appointment today with their GP or local family planning clinic.
The society says that it will be watching closely the deadline for the rollout of a nationwide screening programme as part of the National Cancer Strategy, which is due to begin in 2008.
John McCormack, chief executive of the Irish Cancer Society, said: "The Health Services Executive (HSE) should conduct educational campaigns advising women that the Human Papilloma Virus is the major risk factor for developing cervical cancer and how it is transmitted.
"The HSE should educate women that having regular smears might save their lives. In the meantime the Irish Cancer Society will use funds kindly donated by the public to mount this campaign to educate women."
The National Cancer Registry estimates that there are approximately 1,000 new cases of cervical pre-cancer where abnormalities in the cervix have been detected, 200 new cases of cervical cancer and 70 deaths from cervical cancer, which is one of the highest rates in Western Europe.