NINE in 10 women don’t understand cervical smear tests and why they get tested for HPV, Cancer Research UK warns.
Polls found just 12 per cent knew that medics test for the virus in routine screening because it causes cervical cancer.
King’s College London analysed surveys from 2,000 women to test their understanding.
Cervical screening started on the NHS in the 1960s and offers regular tests for all women aged 25 to 64 to check for cancer.
There are around 3,200 cases per year in the UK and the NHS wants to boost testing because one in three do not take up their invites.
The King’s College study found only 12 per cent of women could identify how HPV testing is used in cervical screening.
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HPV is short for human papillomavirus and around 13 types out of more than 100 are behind 99.7 per cent of cervical cancers.
Overall, 14 per cent of women mentioned HPV as a risk factor for cervical cancer unprompted.
Meanwhile 23 per cent of those who had heard of HPV were aware that most sexually active people will contract the virus at some point in their lives.
Under NHS screening, cervical samples taken during smear tests are tested for HPV.
If high-risk HPV is found, the sample will be looked at for cell changes.
If there are no cell changes, women are invited back for cervical screening in a year.
But if high-risk HPV and cell changes are found, women undergo further tests and may need treatment.
Professor Jo Waller, from Queen Mary University of London, said: “While positive strides have been made to increase awareness of HPV, our research reveals major gaps in women’s understanding.
“Improving awareness can help to reduce feelings of uncertainty and confusion about screening results.”
There is a vaccine for HPV, which is given in schools, and experts believe it is on track to virtually eliminate cervical cancer.
From September, children will receive a single dose when they are in school Year 8.
Latest figures show that, in 2021-2022, some 82.2 per cent of girls had had one dose by the time they were in Year 9.