HPV and the HPV Vaccine

80-90% of people are exposed to HPV during their lifetime. The good news is, there is a very effective vaccine that can help prevent HPV infection.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus which will infect almost everyone at some point in their life. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection, and it spreads by close contact with an infected part of the body. Many HPV infections will resolve within several years and not cause a problem. But sometimes an HPV infection can last longer and cause health problems like genital warts or cancers of the anogenital or head and neck regions. Cancer caused by HPV can take many years, sometimes decades, to develop. Body parts that can be infected include the vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, anus, tongue, tonsils, and back of the throat.

Many people with HPV don’t have symptoms but can still infect others. Infections in most of these body areas are not routinely screened for. The exception to that is the ability to check the cervix of women with regular Pap smears or HPV tests. If a precancerous lesion is found, some treatments can help to try to eradicate the virus. If the infection lingers, then over years, it can lead to cancer of that body part.

In terms of numbers, 80-90% of people are exposed to HPV during their lifetime. It is estimated that about 14 million Americans become infected with HPV every year. Approximately 200,000 cervical pre-cancers and 40,000 cancers caused by HPV are diagnosed in the United States yearly. In order of frequency, mouth and throat cancers are the most common, then cervical, then anal. Several well-known celebrities – including Farrah Fawcett, Marcia Cross, and Michael Douglas – have shared their experiences with HPV-related cancers. Musicians such as Bruce Dickinson, Tom Hamilton, Dave Mustaine, and Rikki Rockett have also spoken publicly. Many have used their platforms to raise awareness about HPV and advocate for vaccination.

HPV can be difficult to treat and eradicate. The good news is, there is a very effective vaccine that can help prevent HPV infection. The vaccine was first approved for girls in 2006 and for boys in 2011. Since the introduction of the vaccine, rates of cervical cancer have dramatically decreased and are no longer the most common HPV infection. Over time, as more people are vaccinated, the other cancer types will likely follow suit. It is estimated that the HPV vaccine can prevent 90% of these cancers.

The HPV vaccine is currently licensed for people between the ages of 9 and 45. Because the vaccine works best before a person is exposed to the virus, it is recommended for pre-teens starting at age 9. At these younger ages, the body mounts a good immune response, and only two doses of vaccine are needed. If the vaccine is given after age 15, three doses are needed. The vaccine is currently recommended for people up to age 26, and sometimes up to age 45 in certain situations. Even though vaccines work best if given before someone is exposed to a virus, there is some evidence that even after HPV infection, the vaccine can help prevent progression of the infection to cancer.

The vaccine is very safe and very effective. Approximately 400 million doses of vaccine have been given worldwide since 2006, and no deaths have been linked to the vaccine. The side effects are no different from other vaccines and include pain, redness, swelling at the injection site, headache, and nausea. Worldwide, rates of cervical cancer have already dropped by 90%, and cervical cancer mortality in young women has dropped by 60%, due to the efficacy of the vaccine.

It is very exciting to have a cancer-preventing vaccine, and I encourage all parents to talk to their pre-teens’ physician about getting vaccinated.

By Indra R. Lovko, MD, a physician at Community Health Pediatrics.