New research suggests embarrassment is stopping many younger women from taking the screening tests for cervical cancer that could save their lives.

Only 50 per cent of Australian women aged in their 20s are having pap tests regularly.

In Victoria the screening rates are at their lowest in a decade, prompting health authorities to launch a campaign to reverse the trend.

Women aged between 18 and 70 who are sexually active are urged to have a pap test every two years.

But Kate Broun, the manager of PapScreen Victoria, says new statistics show the message is not getting through to women in their 20s.

"Two in three older women are having a pap test every two years," she said.

"When you look at younger women, so those aged in their 20s, this actually falls down to one in two.

"So that means that around 50 per cent of young women are not having a pap test every two years and that's a real concern to us today."

In a telephone survey last year, 1,000 Victorian women were asked about why they might put off pap tests.

Ms Broun says the most common reason given was embarrassment.

"The embarrassment, awkward factor rates very highly for young women, more so than for older women," she said.

"Perhaps these women haven't had children yet and do find it that little bit more embarrassing to undertake.

"But really our message is that we acknowledge that pap tests can be awkward, but it's a little bit of awkwardness that can really help to prevent cervical cancer in later life."

Ms Broun says 20 years ago, younger women were most likely to have a pap test.

"Today that trend's reversed," she said.

"In the age group 25 to 29 ... we've seen about an 8 per cent drop in screening.

"When you look at older age groups, for example say the 55- to 59-year-old Australian women, they've actually increased their screening by 7 per cent.

"So at one end we've got a significant gain which we're very pleased to see, but I guess at other end of the spectrum we've seen a significant decline."

'Insidious disease'

Lucas Ellis's wife Melissa was diagnosed with cervical cancer in October last year.

She died within three months of the diagnosis, aged 34.

Mr Ellis says he remembers asking his wife about the time lapse between her tests after an advertisement on television.

"She spoke of the awkwardness of the test which stopped me from prompting again," he said.

"But for the sake of a moment of awkwardness, I wish I had prompted and supported a little bit further."

Mr Ellis says he is now using his experience to raise awareness of cervical cancer and the importance of regular screening.

"Hopefully preventing any other children going through what our children have had to go through," he said.

"I believe that husbands, fathers, sons and brothers can play a bigger role in the battle against this insidious disease just by being supportive and not just putting it in the closet so to speak."

The Cancer Council says regular pap tests can prevent nine out of 10 cervical cancers.