What is the prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in sexually active women?

From the Guidelines

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is extremely common among sexually active women, with approximately 80% of women acquiring at least one HPV infection by age 50, as supported by studies such as 1 and 2. The lifetime risk of acquiring an HPV infection is >80%, with an estimated 79 million people in the United States currently infected with HPV, and approximately half of the 14 million new infections that occur each year are in 15- through 24-year-old individuals, as reported in 1. Some key points to consider:

• At any given time, about 25-45% of sexually active young women (ages 18-25) have a detectable HPV infection, as mentioned in the example answer.
• Most HPV infections are transient and clear naturally within 1-2 years without causing problems, thanks to the body's immune response.
• However, persistent infections with high-risk HPV types (particularly types 16 and 18) can lead to cervical cell abnormalities and potentially cancer over time.
• The prevalence varies by age, with peak infection rates typically occurring in women in their early 20s, followed by a decline with increasing age.
• Regular cervical cancer screening through Pap tests and/or HPV testing is recommended for sexually active women to detect any abnormal cell changes early.
• HPV vaccination before exposure (ideally before becoming sexually active) is highly effective at preventing infection with the most common cancer-causing HPV types, as discussed in 1.
• Using condoms can reduce but not eliminate transmission risk, as HPV can infect areas not covered by condoms. It's essential to note that the HPV vaccine has been shown to be highly effective in preventing HPV-related cancers, with a 64% decrease in 4vHPV type prevalence among girls 14 through 19 years of age and a 34% decrease among women 20 through 24 years of age, as reported in 1. Additionally, the 9-valent HPV vaccine (9vHPV) provides coverage for the original 4 HPV types (6, 11, 16, and 18) in the quadrivalent vaccine and for the high-risk HPV types 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58, which are responsible for an additional 14% of HPV-related cancers in women and 4% of HPV-related cancers in males in the United States, as mentioned in 1. The American Cancer Society guideline for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine use to prevent cervical cancer and its precursors also supports the use of HPV vaccination to prevent HPV-related cancers, as discussed in 3. Overall, the evidence suggests that HPV is a common infection among sexually active women, and vaccination and regular screening are essential for preventing HPV-related cancers.

From the Research

Prevalence of HPV in Sexually Active Women

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide 4.
• HPV can be categorized into high-risk and low-risk types based on their association with the development of certain cancers 4, 5.
• High-risk HPV types, such as HPV-16 and HPV-18, are known to be oncogenic and are strongly associated with the development of cervical, anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers 4, 5, 6.
• The prevalence of HPV infection is high among sexually active women, with approximately 99.7% of cervical cancer cases caused by persistent genital high-risk HPV infection 6.

Transmission and Prevention of HPV

• HPV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex 4, 5.
• HPV vaccines, such as Gardasil and Cervarix, are highly effective in preventing infection with the most common high-risk HPV types 4, 5, 7.
• Safe sexual practices, such as consistent and correct condom use and limiting the number of sexual partners, can also reduce the risk of HPV transmission 4.
• Organized vaccination programs, whether population-based or school-based, are necessary to increase vaccination uptake rates 5.

Diagnosis and Treatment of HPV

• Diagnosis of HPV infection can be challenging because the infection is often asymptomatic, especially in men 4.
• In women, HPV testing can be done through cervical screening programs, which involve the collection of cervical cells for analysis 4, 6.
• Abnormal results may lead to further diagnostic procedures, such as colposcopy or biopsy, to detect precancerous or cancerous changes 4.
• HPV vaccination has been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of HPV-related diseases, including genital warts, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and cervical cancer 7.