As the cervical screening programme moves to a system of human papillomavirus (HPV) primary screening, more women will be told they have HPV.

As such, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust wants to reduce some of the myths and anxiety surrounding the virus to ensure women fully understand what their results mean and are not put off attending potentially life-saving cervical screening.

The charity’s latest research found that only 37 per cent know HPV is a virus (28 per cent think it’s an STI and 20 per cent think it’s a bacteria), 35 per cent incorrectly think HPV has symptoms and 31 per cent think that HPV can be treated with antibiotics. In addition, 39 per cent of women would be worried what people thought of them if they were told they had HPV and 41.7 per cent would worry their partner had been unfaithful.

Robert Music, chief executive, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: “HPV can be confusing however it affects the majority of us so we must normalise it to ensure people don’t feel ashamed or scared about being told they have the virus.”