The Eve Appeal

The Eve Appeal The Eve Appeal is the leading gynaecological cancer charity. PIF TICK approved health information.

To help save lives, we focus on preventing and improving the early diagnosis of womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal cancer.

Cervical cancer is almost wholly preventable. Nearly all cases are caused by HPV, a common virus which is transmitted th...
15/06/2026

Cervical cancer is almost wholly preventable. Nearly all cases are caused by HPV, a common virus which is transmitted through skin-to-skin s*xual contact.

HPV is often cleared by our immune systems without causing any problems. But, if it lingers, it can develop into some cancers- cervical but also v***al and va**nal cancer, a**l, head and neck and pe**le cancers.

There are a few things you can do to help prevent cervical cancer:
-Get the HPV vaccination if you're eligible
-Attend your cervical screening test when invited
-Know the signs and symptoms and get anything worrying checked out as soon as possible.

All young people will be offered the HPV vaccine in year 8 as part of the school’s vaccination programme. The HPV vaccine has been shown to reduce the number of cervical cancers by 90%. You can get the HPV vaccine from your GP up until the age of 25, or up to 45 if you are considered to be in a higher risk group.

Cervical screening is a test to help prevent cervical cancer. It looks for high-risk HPV, and if it is present, cell changes. These cell changes aren’t cancer but could turn into cancer over time. If cell changes are found, they can be treated or monitored to stop them turning into cancer.

The symptoms of cervical cancer aren’t always obvious. The most common symptoms are va**nal bleeding that is new or different for you, including:

-Vaginal bleeding during or after s*x, this is often the first sign
-Bleeding in-between periods
-Bleeding after the menopause (12 months since your last period)

Other symptoms include:
-Lower back or pelvic pain
-Pain or discomfort during s*x
-Changes to va**nal discharge like a change to smell.

If you have any of these symptoms, it is important that you see your GP, even if you have recently had a clear cervical screening test. It is more likely to be caused by something less serious than cancer, but it is always worth getting them checked. Just in case. The earlier cervical cancer is caught, the more treatment options there are and the best possible chance someone will have of successful treatment.

You can find out more on our website:
https://eveappeal.org.uk/information-and-advice/preventing-cancer/facts-and-tips-for-cervical-screening/

It’s the first day of Cervical Screening Awareness Week! First thing’s first, let’s get back to basics: what is cervical...
15/06/2026

It’s the first day of Cervical Screening Awareness Week!

First thing’s first, let’s get back to basics: what is cervical screening?

Cervical screening (which used to be called a smear test) is a free health test on the NHS to help prevent cervical cancer. It checks for a virus called high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV). If high-risk HPV is present, then the sample will be checked for cervical cell changes. It is not a test to diagnose cervical cancer.

During cervical screening, a healthcare professional will collect a sample of cells from the cervix. They will insert a lubricated speculum into the va**na. This will open up the va**nal walls. They then take a sample of cells by sweeping the cervix with a soft plastic brush. The sample will be sent off to a laboratory for testing.

The sample will be tested for high-risk HPV. This is the common virus which causes nearly all cervical cancers. If high-risk HPV is found, the sample will be checked for any changes to the cells. These cells aren’t cancer. These changes could lead to cervical cancer in the future if they are not monitored or treated.

High-risk HPV is passed on through skin-to-skin s*xual contact. 8 in 10 of us will come into contact with HPV during our lives. The immune system usually clears HPV within two years before it causes any problems. If HPV doesn’t clear, it can cause changes in the cervical cells and increase the risk of cancer.

Cervical screening starts at the age of 25 in the UK. Anyone with a cervix is eligible. This can include cis women, trans men, non-binary, and inters*x people.

If you are registered as female with a GP surgery, you will get an invitation up to six months before your 25th birthday. If you are in England, it will be sent via the NHS App. If you do not have the app, or don’t get the message, you will be sent a text (SMS). If you don’t receive or open this text, you will be sent a letter.

We will be sharing lots more information about cervical screening all week long. You can find out more about cervical screening and tips to make the appointment more comfortable on our website:
https://eveappeal.org.uk/information-and-advice/preventing-cancer/facts-and-tips-for-cervical-screening/

The va**na is self-cleaning. We have billions of good and bad bacteria living in our va**na, and these bacteria, along w...
12/06/2026

The va**na is self-cleaning. We have billions of good and bad bacteria living in our va**na, and these bacteria, along with various fungi and viruses, make up their own little ecosystem called the va**nal microbiome.

The bacteria produce lactic acid, which creates an acidic environment (a low pH), which wards off nasty infections.

Douching (cleaning the va**na with either water or water mixed with any washes or products) disrupts our microbiome and pH level. So does using ‘feminine hygiene’ products. This makes us more likely to get infections like thrush, bacterial vaginosis and pelvic inflammatory disease. So let your va**na do its thing, it will be keeping itself nice and clean and healthy.

Vulvas are supposed to smell like guess what, v***as. Not flowers, not sweets, or anything else for that matter. The v***al skin is very sensitive and can be easily irritated by these products, and because the va**na is self-cleaning and is trying to keep its delicate pH balanced, any products you put on your v***a might disrupt that. The ‘feminine hygiene’ industry is quite literally selling us shame in a bottle!

As Dr Anita Mitra, aka the Dr Anita Mitra MBChB PhD MRCOG says, she doesn’t care if the package says ‘pH balanced’, you do not need specific v***al washes, lotions or potions. Just wash your v***a with water, or a gentle soap is fine.

We have some tips for looking after your gynae health on our website, linked in bio.

The va**na is self-cleaning. We have billions of good and bad bacteria living in our va**na, and these bacteria, along w...
12/06/2026

The va**na is self-cleaning. We have billions of good and bad bacteria living in our va**na, and these bacteria, along with various fungi and viruses, make up their own little ecosystem called the va**nal microbiome.

The bacteria produce lactic acid, which creates an acidic environment (a low pH), which wards off nasty infections.

Douching (cleaning the va**na with either water or water mixed with any washes or products) disrupts our microbiome and pH level. So does using ‘feminine hygiene’ products. This makes us more likely to get infections like thrush, bacterial vaginosis and pelvic inflammatory disease. So let your va**na do its thing, it will be keeping itself nice and clean and healthy.

Vulvas are supposed to smell like guess what, v***as. Not flowers, not sweets, or anything else for that matter. The v***al skin is very sensitive and can be easily irritated by these products, and because the va**na is self-cleaning and is trying to keep its delicate pH balanced, any products you put on your v***a might disrupt that. The ‘feminine hygiene’ industry is quite literally selling us shame in a bottle!

As Dr Anita Mitra, aka the says, she doesn’t care if the package says ‘pH balanced’, you do not need specific v***al washes, lotions or potions. Just wash your v***a with water, or a gentle soap is fine.

We have some tips for looking after your gynae health on our website:
https://eveappeal.org.uk/information-and-advice/looking-after-your-gynae-health/tips-for-looking-after-your-gynae-health/

June is Uterine (womb) Cancer Awareness Month, led by IGCSociety and International Gynecologic Cancer Advocacy Network H...
09/06/2026

June is Uterine (womb) Cancer Awareness Month, led by IGCSociety and International Gynecologic Cancer Advocacy Network

Here are five things we want everyone to know about womb cancer.

1- It’s the 4th most common cancer in women. 9,500 new cases are diagnosed each year in the UK.

2- It is most commonly diagnosed post-menopause, but it can happen to anyone with a womb at any age.

3- Womb cancer is on the increase in the UK. The number of people being diagnosed has increased by 12% in the last 10 years.

4- Most womb cancers begin in the womb lining.

5- Cancer of the womb may be called several different names by your healthcare professional including uterine cancer (the medical name for the womb is uterus), or endometrial cancer which is a cancer of the lining of the womb.

You can find more information on womb cancer on our website, : https://eveappeal.org.uk/information-and-advice/gynaecological-cancers/womb-cancer/

It's Uterine (womb) Cancer Awareness Month, led by IGCSociety and International Gynecologic Cancer Advocacy Network Did ...
08/06/2026

It's Uterine (womb) Cancer Awareness Month, led by IGCSociety and International Gynecologic Cancer Advocacy Network

Did you know that the most common symptom of womb cancer is abnormal va**nal bleeding?

But when exactly is va**nal bleeding 'abnormal' and needs to get checked:
-Bleeding after the menopause, like blood in discharge (pink, brown, red)
-Bleeding between periods
-Bleeding that is unusually heavy for you
-Vaginal discharge that is blood-stained

ANY post-menopausal bleed or blood stained discharge is abnormal. It is important to get any new bleeding checked by your GP. It is more likely to be caused by something less serious than cancer, but it is always worth getting checked. Just in case. The earlier womb cancer is caught, the best possible chance you will have of successful treatment.

For peri and post-menopausal women and people with gynae organs it can take a while to know the new ‘normal’ for your bleeding pattern and va**nal discharge. If you aren’t sure, do speak to your GP or practice nurse. You can also contact our Ask Eve nurses for free and confidential information.

You can find more information on womb cancer on our website:https://eveappeal.org.uk/information-and-advice/gynaecological-cancers/womb-cancer/

Different generations. Same mission.
05/06/2026

Different generations. Same mission.

We are so excited for our trek up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) tomorrow 🥾Good luck to everyone taking part- get a good night slee...
05/06/2026

We are so excited for our trek up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) tomorrow 🥾

Good luck to everyone taking part- get a good night sleep and we will see you tomorrow!

There are five gynaecological cancers: womb, ovarian, cervical, v***al and va**nal. Today, 60 women and people with gyna...
04/06/2026

There are five gynaecological cancers: womb, ovarian, cervical, v***al and va**nal.

Today, 60 women and people with gynae organs in the UK will hear the devastating news they have one of these cancers, and 21 will die because of the gynae cancer they were diagnosed with.

Each year, that’s thousands of lives lost to cancers that most people don’t know enough about, are rarely discussed, and receive nowhere near enough research funding.

At The Eve Appeal, we’re determined to change this unacceptable situation. Our aim is to prevent gynae cancers from developing in the first place, but if they do develop, we want to make sure they’re detected early so more people survive their diagnosis.

To make our goals a reality, we fund research that aims to identify the causes of gynae cancers, predict and reduce a person’s risk of developing them, and improve their detection and diagnosis.

We also educate people about their gynaecological health and anatomy and the signs and symptoms of gynae cancers. And we answer people’s questions about their gynae health and gynae cancers through our Ask Eve nurse service.

But, as an organisation that depends on the generosity of people like you, we can only do this with your help.

Find out how you can get involved on our website:
eveappeal.org.uk

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