Women over the age of 50 have been urged not to skip their cervical screening appointments, as they could prove to be life-saving.
A study at Queen Mary University of London, supported by Cancer Research UK, looked at data from more than 1,000 over-65s who had been diagnosed with cervical cancer, as well as 2,646 women without the disease.
It was found that smear tests on 50 to 64-year-olds have a substantial impact on cervical cancer rates for decades afterwards.
However, around a quarter of women from this age group skip the test, with the proportion being screen declining significantly after 55.
The researchers warned in the journal PLOS Medicine that women who do not go for smear tests in their 50s and 60s are four times more likely to develop the disease than their counterparts who have regular checks.
'Screening is a great way of reducing the risk of cervical cancer, and saves up to 5,000 lives a year in the UK. We encourage women to take up cervical screening when invited,' said Cancer Research UK's Jessica Kirby.
There were 972 deaths from cervical cancer in Britain in 2011.