'Inspiring' Michelle Keegan praised for vlogging smear test on Instagram: 'Stop making excuses and go!'

Michelle Keegan has been praised for vlogging her smear test in a bid to encourage young women to undergo the procedure.

Keegan, 31, said she has been putting it off “for quite a long time,” using the excuse of being “too busy”.

The former Coronation Street star posted a series of videos to her Instagram account as she documented her journey to the doctor’s surgery and how she felt after undergoing the “really quick” test.

Keegan said she knows it can be “daunting” and “bloody embarrassing” but reassured fans that it was pain free and over in a matter of minutes.

She posted a picture of herself covered with a towel on the doctor’s bed alongside the caption: “Here we go…”

She said: “I was in the room for five minutes on the bed for two it was really quick, really easy and wasn’t painful at all, just a bit uncomfortable.

“Ladies I’m urging you to book in your smear and tell all your family and friends to do the same because it’s so important and it’s so easy.”

Keegan admitted to ‘pushing aside’ letters and said she has “also ignored my mum’s tiresome pleas telling me to book an appointment with my local GP”.

In a plea to those who may feel the same, she said: “My advice to you... STOP making excuses, book, and go for your bloody smear! A smear test lasts 5 minutes the impact of cervical cancer lasts a life time!”

Keegan was praised for “inspiring” young women with one user writing: “Amazing post that should be shared far and wide. Thank you.”

Another wrote: “Amazing that you are using your profile to raise awareness of such an important issue for women.”

A third posted: “It is a must that has to be done girls, one of the best posts I’ve seen for a while @michkeegan (sic).”

Robert Music, Chief Executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: "It was fantastic to see Michelle being so open and honest in talking about her recent smear test and encouraging other women to attend. Over one in four women don't go for this potentially life-saving test and that number is sadly rising year on year.

"There are many reasons which can make going for a smear test difficult and we want women to know they're not alone if they feel embarrassed or anxious about taking up their invitation."

There are around 3,200 new cervical cancer cases in the UK every year, according to Cancer Research UK. Around 95 per cent of women with cervical cancer will survive their disease for five years or more if diagnosed in the early stages, compared with 5 in 100 of women when diagnosed at the latest stage.