The demise of Pap smear screening will boost the prevalence of the STI Trichomonas vaginalis, so it should be specifically screened for, say Sydney researchers.

Currently Trichomonas vaginalis is thought to have a prevalence of just 0.4% in the Australian population, partly because it has been detected opportunistically when cells from Pap smears are examined microscopically.

But the new HPV DNA testing will not spot it, warn researchers from UNSW’s Kirby Institute.

Unless screening is introduced for the parasite, the experts in biomathematical modelling estimate its prevalence will increase more than sixfold over the next 20 years.