OVARIANA®Poland runs a free NFZ (National Health Fund) cervical cancer screening program for women aged 25–64. No referral is needed. You can sign up through the national e-registration on your Patient Internet Account (IKP) or the mojeIKP app, directly at a clinic, or via the free helpline 800 190 590. The test is done by gynecology clinics with an NFZ contract and by some primary-care practices.
The first-stage test in the NFZ program is the HPV HR test. Since August 1, 2026, it has replaced the conventional Pap test (cytology) as the first-stage test in this program. It is a molecular test that detects high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) — the main cause of cervical cancer. The sample is taken the same way as for a Pap test: a short swab from the cervix. It goes into a special liquid container, so if the test detects the virus, cytology is done from the same sample — no second visit.
Results in brief. If no virus is detected, your next screening test is usually in 5 years — sometimes the doctor will advise an earlier date, and then you follow their advice. If the test detects the virus, it does not mean cancer: cytology from the same sample is checked, and the next steps depend on the virus type and the cytology result — the doctor discussing your result will set them out. It may be, for example, a checkup in a year or a closer examination of the cervix (colposcopy).
Very important: screening is for women without symptoms. If you have symptoms — abnormal bleeding (e.g., after sex or after menopause), unusual discharge, pain — schedule a doctor's appointment at the earliest available date, regardless of when your screening was or will be and what it showed. With heavy bleeding or feeling unwell, seek help urgently.
Under 25 or over 64? Those are the program's boundaries, not your needs' — talk to a doctor about testing.
Sources: NFZ — HPV HR od 1 sierpnia 2026 · NFZ — zasady programu