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Did You Know? Video Series: Human Papillomavirus
Did you know that infection with about a dozen HPV types
is associated with cancer among both men and women?
The good news is that HPV vaccines and cervical cancer
screening can prevent certain cancers and other diseases.
The human papillomavirus, or HPV, is actually a group of
200 closely related viruses.
There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the
genital areas, the anus, the mouth, and the throat.
Infection with HPV is the most common sexually transmitted
infection.
It is most common among young men and women.
There are two groups of sexually transmitted HPVs:
low-risk and high-risk.
Low-risk HPVs do not cause cancer but can cause skin warts
on or around the genitals and anus.
High-risk HPVs can cause cervical, anal, vulvar, vaginal,
penile, and oropharyngeal cancers, which includes the base
of the tongue and parts of the throat.
In the United States, high-risk HPV types cause approximately
3% of all cancer cases among women and
2% of all cancer cases among men.
HPV is the cause of virtually all cases of
cervical cancer worldwide.
In the United States, southern states have the highest rates of
this disease.
Advances in research have led to changes in
cervical cancer screening.
Two types of tests may be done to screen for changes in
cervical cells due to HPV: the Pap test and the HPV test.
The Pap test checks for abnormal cells in tissue collected from
the cervix.
The HPV test examines the cells collected from the cervix for
the presence of DNA or RNA from high-risk HPVs .
Talk with your doctor about which screening options
are best for you.
Research has also led to the development of HPV vaccines,
which can prevent cancers and other diseases due to HPV.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
or CDC, recommends that all kids who are ages 11 and 12
receive the recommended series of HPV vaccine.
Visit CDC.gov/HPV
for the most up to date vaccination information.
CDC also recommends that, if they did not get vaccinated when
they were younger, young women should be vaccinated through
age 26 and young men through age 21.
HPV vaccination is also recommended through age 26 for
transgender people, men who have sex with men, and young adults
who have conditions such as HIV
that cause a weakened immune system.
In the United States, HPV vaccination rates for
girls ages 13 to 17 vary widely by region.
State policy may affect some of the differences.
Over 25 states have enacted legislation to educate the
public about HPV vaccination.
Ask your doctor about cancer screening and prevention,
including HPV vaccination.
Get the facts and learn what is best for your family’s health.
For more information on HPV, go to www.cancer.gov
or call 1-800-4-cancer.
For more cancer statistics, go to seer.cancer.gov
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Cancer Institute
Produced October 2017.
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