High levels of shame and ignorance are comparable with HPV, the sexually-transmitted virus which affects 80% of people, a survey has discovered.
The government is rolling out HPV testing as edge of routine screenings for cervical cancer.
Nearly half of the women surveyed believed their wife must have cheated inside the occasion that that they'd HPV, but the virus can live dormant for years.
Campaigners fear women would perhaps now now not attend screenings on account of the stigma.
The survey of 2,000 women was finished with the aid of way of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust last month.
It discovered that half of the women were embarrassed and "put off sex" merely because of the reality of contracting the virus.
Around 35% of the women had no idea what HPV is, and nearly 60% stated they thought it supposed that they'd cancer.
Laura Flaherty, 31, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016, is regular of the respondents.
"When I first saw on my letter that I had been diagnosed as being HPV positive, I did now now not notice what it was. When I Googled it I discovered it was a sexually transmitted infection, so I automatically thought my wife had been cheating.
"I knew nothing about it, and it felt dirty. I did now now not determine it would perhaps lay dormant for therefore long and whereas I realised how sizeable HPV is I was shocked. No-one I spoke to had heard of it, yet most people are going to contract it."
Busting the HPV myths
Myth: You can only get the virus with the aid of way of power of sexual intercourse
Fact: HPV is typically sexually transmitted, nevertheless it would perhaps in truth also be transmitted with the aid of way of any skin-to-skin contact inside the genital and oral areas
Myth: HPV is a sign of being promiscuous
Fact: 80% people will contract HPV virus at a few degree in our lives, or now now not it is easy to get and move on and in addition you'll get it the fundamental time you have got got any sexual contact.
Myth: HPV power I've got cancer
Fact: There are about 200 sorts of HPV. About 40 sorts have an impact at the genital area, merely meaning they also can additionally just live there, just a few can cause grotesque but harmless conditions like genital warts. Around 13 high-risk sorts can cause cervical cancer and other cancers of the genitals as properly as mouth and throat cancer, but here is rare.
Myth: You'll notice have to you have got got HPV
Fact: HPV is symptomless and in most instances the immune system will blank the infection. Cervical screening picks up any weird cells
Source: Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust
The survey comes as a government initiative to test for HPV first in cervical screening, before other conditions, starts in Wales next week. It will roll out to England with the aid of way of 2019 and be implemented in Scotland in 2020, but there could be now now not any date for its introduction in Northern Ireland.
The change power that more women will likely be advised that they have HPV.
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Image caption
HPV first testing is being introduced in Wales this week
Robert Music, Chief Executive, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, said: "Testing for HPV first is a far more excessive fine technique of identifying those most at risk of cervical cancer. This change to the programme does mean more women will likely be advised they have HPV.
"HPV must be confusing however, so we must normalise it to ensure people do now now not truly experience ashamed or scared about being advised they have the virus."
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HPV infection is rapidly declining in females aged amongst 12 and 18 merely because of the reality of the HPV vaccine introduced in 2008.
Last year, the vaccine was extended to gay men aged 16 to 45, and in July the govt announced that it is going to also be extended to boys, although no leap date has yet been given.
There are now not any plans to extend the HPV vaccine to other adults over the age of 18, merely because of the reality the likelihood of already having the infection are high, and therefore the vaccine will be ineffective.
Dr Philippa Kaye, GP and creator said: "GPs and properly being professionals will likely be having more conversations with patients about HPV as they come in to speak their results. Understanding how or now now not it is transmitted and the relative risks will help cut again the stigma surrounding it."