The biggest risk factor for developing cervical cancer is failing to have a smear test. However Irish women over the age of 45 are less likely to go for regular smear tests compared to younger women, the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) has said.

It made its comments at the launch of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2013, which runs until January 26. The week aims to increase awareness of the disease and encourage women aged between 25 and 60 to avail of free smear tests via CervicalCheck, the National Cervical Screening Programme.

Every year in Ireland, around 300 women are newly diagnosed with the disease and some 90 women die as a result. The average age of women at the time of their diagnosis is 45.

However, according to IFPA medical director, Dr Caitriona Henchion, statistics show that lower proportions of women in the 45+ age group are attending for smear tests compared to younger women.

"Attendance among those aged 45 to 60 is around 60%, whereas the overall attendance figure is at 82%. Attendance is highest among the youngest age groups and decreases gradually with increasing age," she explained.

Dr Henchion said there could be many reasons for this.

"Some women are less likely to attend for smears once they stop having children and women in this age group also visit their doctor less frequently, so GPs and nurses have fewer opportunities to remind them about the importance of regular smears," she noted.

However, she emphasised that cervical cancer ‘can still be a major health risk for women at this stage of their lives'. The best way to prevent the disease is to attend regularly for screening.

CervicalCheck was launched in 2008 and since then, an average of 1,000 women per day have undergone free smear tests. Over 800,000 women have had at least one free test and 84% of results were negative or normal.

Just over 13% of results showed low grade abnormalities, while almost 2% showed high grade abnormalities. Abnormalities are ‘pre-cancerous' and are easily treatable if caught in time.

For more information, or to check when your next smear test is due, click on www.cervicalcheck.ie or call 1800 45 45 55. Calls are free of charge.

Meanwhile, as part of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, the IFPA will be distributing over 22,000 Pearl of Wisdom badges and information leaflets to women nationwide via pharmacies, family resource centres and other health promotion networks. The Pearl of Wisdom is the international emblem of cervical cancer prevention.