By Sam Blanchard Senior Health Reporter For Mailonline
Published: 00:01 BST, 29 June 2019 | Updated: 00:01 BST, 29 June 2019
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Women are putting their lives at risk because of a false belief they won't get HPV if they don't have sex with men, the NHS has warned.
Thousands of lesbian, gay and bisexual women are skipping cervical screening tests and the health service is concerned it's because they don't think they're at risk.
In a survey it found homosexual women are almost twice as likely to have never attended a screening than the national average.
The common virus causes almost all cases of cervical cancer and both HPV and cancer affect 'anyone with a cervix', top doctors say.
If all eligible women went to their screening appointments, to which they're invited at least every three years, four out of five cases of the cancer could be avoided.
A survey by the NHS found lesbian, gay and bisexual women are almost twice as likely to have never been to a cervical screening appointment than the national average (stock image)
'The misleading information that gay and bisexual women aren’t at risk of this disease is one of the most dangerous myths around,' said Dr Michael Brady, the NHS's advisor for LGBT health.
'It has created a screening gap for thousands, which is a major concern for our community.
'Let’s be clear: cancer does not discriminate.
'If you’ve got a cervix, you can get cervical cancer, and as cervical cancer is preventable people should take up their regular screening appointments.'
Up to eight out of 10 people will be infected with HPV in their lives
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name for a group of viruses that affect your skin and the moist membranes lining your body.
Spread through vaginal, anal and oral sex and skin-to-skin contact between genitals, it is extremely common.
Up to eight out of 10 people will be infected with the virus at some point in their lives.
There are more than 100 types of HPV. Around 30 of which can affect the genital area. Genital HPV
