The HPV Vaccine and School Mandates: Questions and Answers
by Moira Gaul, M.P.H.
Q: What is HPV?
A: HPV, or human papilloma virus, is a virus that can cause abnormal tissue growth on different
The HPV Vaccine and School Mandates: Questions and Answers
by Moira Gaul, M.P.H.
Q: What is HPV?
A: HPV, or human papilloma virus, is a virus that can cause abnormal tissue growth on different cell surfaces in and on the human body. There are over 100 types or strains of HPV that exist. HPVs causing warts which appear on outer skin layers, such as hands, are different than HPVs which grow on mucus covered surfaces found in the throat and genitals.
Q: Are some types of HPV more dangerous than others?
A: Yes, HPV types can be divided into two categories: high-risk or cancer associated/causing types and, low-risk or non-cancer causing types.
Q: How is genital HPV infection associated with cervical cancer?
A: Sexually transmitted HPV has been shown to be present in virtually all cases of cervical cancer and is the leading cause of cervical cancer. High risk HPV types 16 and 18 cause 70 percent of cervical cancer cases.
Q: How many people have genital HPV?
A: According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 20 million Americans are infected with HPV currently and approximately 6.2 million Americans become infected with HPV every year. An estimated half of those infected, or 10 million, are sexually active adolescents and young people aged 15 to 24 years.
Q: How can a person get infected with HPV?
A: HPV transmission takes place during direct skin to skin contact, usually at the time of sexual intercourse (vaginal or anal sex). Transmission can also take place through other routes which involve any genital contact, though much less frequently than during sexual intercourse.
Q: How does a person know if they have infection with HPV?
A: Because HPV infections usually clear themselves without intervention in anywhere from six months to two years and because they don't often produce any symptoms, many people do not know that they are or were at one time infected. People who develop a "persistent infection" may develop genital warts, precancerous lesions, or cancer.
The CDC estimates that 10 percent of women with HPV develop persistent HPV infections. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types places a woman at greatest risk for developing cervical lesions or precancer lesions, and cancer. Women with persistent low-risk HPV type infection may develop genital warts.
Q: What are risk factors for HPV infection in women?
A: Women and girls who have not been sexually active are not at risk for genital HPV infection. Among sexually active females, the CDC cites the following risk factors as being strongly associated with acquisition of HPV infection: increasing number of sex partners, early age at first sexual intercourse (16 years or younger), male partner has (or has had) multiple sex partners, and young age (less than 25 years). Further, the risk of HPV infection is proportionately related to the number of sex partners a person has or has had.
Q: How can a person be best protected from acquiring genital HPV?
A: Limiting sexual activity to the context of one faithful and monogamous long-term relationship with an uninfected individual is the single most effective method of preventing HPV infection. This statement is supported by the CDC which concluded in a 2004 report,
"Because genital HPV infection is most common in men and women who have multiple sex partners, abstaining from sexual activity (i.e. refraining from any genital contact with another individual) is the surest way to prevent infection. For those who choose to be sexually active, monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner is the strategy most likely to prevent future genital HPV infections.
"The available scientific evidence is not sufficient to recommend condoms as a primary prevention strategy for the prevention of genital HPV infection..."
For these reasons stated above the Family Research Council (FRC) takes the position that practicing abstinence until marriage and fidelity within marriage is the best form of prevention against HPV infection.
However, HPV infection can result from involuntary sexual activity, such as abuse or assault, and a woman may marry someone carrying HPV. Therefore, it is possible that even someone practicing abstinence and fidelity may benefit from HPV vaccines.
Cervical cancer and HPV
Q: How many women are affected by cervical cancer?
A: Worldwide, cervical cancer is a significant cause of death in women. Currently, an estimated 500,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually, and 230,000 deaths are attributed to cervical cancer. The disease burden is greatest in developing countries.
The American Cancer Society estimated that in the U.S. in 2006, over 9,710 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,700 will die from this disease.
Q: What has been the principal method of preventing cervical cancer until now?