However, considering the fact that most women are likely to get HPV at some point in their lives and that it cannot be fully prevented, this isn’t necessarily the case. On Thursday, a new study found that the HPV vaccine cuts cervical cancer by almost 90 per cent. Rebecca Shoosmith, head of support services at Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, has spoken with The Independent to help dispel 11 of the biggest misconceptions that continue to perpetuate conversations about HPV.

While cervical cancer is seen as a cancer that affects women, as it can afflict any person with a cervix, HPV can affect anybody.

The majority people are likely to contract HPV in their lifetime if they are sexually active “regardless of gender”, Ms Shoosmith explains.

“HPV doesn’t discriminate!” she adds.

Because HPV is known as the primary cause of cervical cancer, this may lead to the assumption that it is only contracted by a small number of people.

“HPV is actually really common with around four in five of us getting it at some point,” Ms Shoosmith says.

While it is typically transmitted through sexual contact, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is trying to encourage people not to call it a sexually transmitted infection.

“Unlike many STIs, it can’t be fully prevented nor can it be treated,” Ms Shoosmith explains.

“Also due to how common it is, it is really unhelpful to call it an STI. It’s much more rare to not get HPV.”

“Having it does not at all mean you will be diagnosed with cancer,” Ms Shoosmith states.

“Infections are really common and cervical cancer is rare.”

The Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust representative outlines that the human body typically clears itself of the HPV infection “without it doing the body any harm”. “In some cases it can cause cells to change, which is why smear tests are so important as they mean any changes can be picked up.”

Ms Shoosmith emphasises that while it cannot be fully treated, the majority of cases of the infection – nine in 10 – are cleared by the body’s immune system.

She adds that treatment can be provided for cells that have changed.

“The vaccine is very safe and extremely effective,” Ms Shoosmith affirms.

“It protects against seven out of 10 cases of cervical cancer, so combined with cervical screening it offers a fantastic degree of protection.”

While it can be transmitted through sexual activity, it can live undetected in the body for around two decades.

This means it can be extremely difficult to pinpoint exactly when a person contracted it.

“Having the virus is no sign that someone has cheated at all,” Ms Shoosmith says.

While wearing a barrier-form of contraception such as a condom can reduce a person’s risk of getting the virus. It is not a 100 per cent foolproof preventative measure.

“As HPV lives on the skin, condoms won’t fully protect against it,” Ms Shoosmith explains.

“Other sexual contact like touching or oral sex can pass on too.”

The virus lives on the skin, it is not only spread through penetrative sex.

It can pass from person to person through other forms of sexual activity, Ms Shoosmith outlines.

“If you’ve ever had any kind of sexual contact – that includes oral sex, any touching of genitals or sharing sex toys – you could have come into contact with HPV.”

While there are currently no screenings for men, boys are now being offered the vaccine in schools, Ms Shoosmith states.

In July 2019, it was announced that boys in the UK were to be offered the jab for the first time in a bid to reduce cancer rates.

“There are no symptoms and most people who have it will never actually know that they have it,” Ms Shoosmith explains.