A cancer charity says the current gap in knowledge about cervical screening is "costing lives".

Eve's Appeal says more women need to know they can ask for adjustments to cervical screening, which can be painful, uncomfortable or distressing for some.

The test is thought to save around 5,000 lives a year in the UK, but many women don't get it.

Research commissioned by the charity shows that most women don't know they can make the test easier by asking for a longer appointment, a smaller speculum or moving to a more comfortable position.

Offered on the NHS to all women and people aged 25 to 64 with cervical cancer, this screening tests for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes cervical cancer.

The test involves collecting a sample of cells from the cervix. If any abnormal cells are found, they can be removed or monitored to prevent cancer from developing.

However, according to the latest figures from NHS England, more than Five million eligible women have yet to keep up For routine screening, women aged 25 to 29 had the lowest uptake (58%).

Eve Appeal chief executive Athena Lamnisos said it was "worrying" and any obstacles people encountered during screenings could be "easily overcome".

"You can ask for something very simple and straightforward and the patient just doesn't know...basically, you have everything under control."

YouGov conducted the survey of more than 1,100 women ahead of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.

The charity says women should know They can request screening adjustments like:

• Move to a more comfortable position for testing
• If they feel uncomfortable, feel free to ask to stop
• Book two appointments so they have plenty of time for the procedure and don't feel rushed
• Requires lubrication
• Insert or guide the speculum yourself
• Bring a friend with you for support

Ms Lannizos said people with disabilities, people with certain health conditions and people who didn't speak English cited barriers to testing.

"Overcoming these challenges and filling these information gaps will save lives," she added.

Eve Hewitt, who has Crohn's disease and vaginal scarring from surgery, told the BBC she asked for her screening results to be adjusted because of the potential pain and bleeding.

“If I wasn’t prepared, if I wasn’t ready to advocate for myself, I would be very anxious about the pain that could happen,” she said.

Ms Hewitt, from Cambridgeshire, said she always asked for a smaller speculum and made two appointments to "break the ice" with the nurse.

"If I can say 'These are the things that I'm concerned about, I'm worried about the pain, how uncomfortable this is going to be for me and maybe how difficult it is for the nurse as well' — if we can discuss that beforehand, we It was helpful for me to have some plan of action.

"Sometimes I find it helpful to have a pillow under my butt, making me more comfortable and making it easier for the nurse. If I feel like it's not working, I'll reschedule."

Ms Hewitt said she agreed there seemed to be a "complete lack of knowledge" and understood why some people were not getting tested.

"If I didn't know I could ask for an adaptation, there's a good chance I would be put off."

NHS England aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 through cervical screening and cervical cancer screening. HPV vaccine, Figures show that cervical cancer cases in the UK have dropped by 90%.

NHS England says those who have been vaccinated still need to attend cervical screening as their chance of developing cancer remains small.