Updated on July 10, 2024.
Human papillomavirus (HPV), is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. It’s spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. The virus is so ubiquitous that nearly all sexually active people are infected at some point during their lifetimes.
In fact, 80 percent of women will contract at least one HPV type over the course of their lives, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. More than 42 percent of Americans ages 18 to 59 are infected with the virus at any given time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
How many types of HPV are there?
There are more than 200 types of HPV, 40 of which can infect mucosal membranes like those found in the genital area, mouth, and throat. Of these, 12 types can lead to certain forms of cancer, including cancers of the cervix, vagina, penis, and anus, as well as cancers of the head and neck. As a result, these viruses are considered high-risk strains. (Certain HPV strains that cause skin warts around the genitals and anus typically don’t go on to cause cancer.)
What are the rates of HPV infection?
Among the entire U.S. population, an estimated 22.7 percent of adults aged 18 to 59 have high-risk genital HPV, which significantly increases their risk of cancer. When broken down by sex, high-risk strains of the virus infect 25.1 percent of men and people assigned male at birth and 20.4 percent of women and people assigned female at birth.
In addition to sex differences in the distribution of infection, there are also racial and ethnic disparities. The rate of HPV infection among non-Hispanic white adults is roughly 22 percent and the rate among Asian Americans is about 12 percent. The rate of infection among Black adults, on the other hand, is about 34 percent.
The HPV vaccine offers protection
There is a vaccine that prevents HPV infection and, in turn, the cancers caused by HPV.
According to the CDC, since 2006, infections with high-risk HPV types have fallen by 88 percent among teenage girls and 81 percent among young women as a result of growing use of the vaccine. Incidences of both genital warts and precancerous cells in the cervix have also fallen.
The HPV vaccine is so effective it can also provide herd immunity, according to a 2021 review of studies published in the journal Vaccines. This means it can reduce rates of HPV-related diseases throughout the population, even among those who are not vaccinated.
In 2021, just under 62 percent of U.S. teens were fully vaccinated against HPV, according to the CDC. Unfortunately, lingering myths and misconceptions about the HPV vaccine may hinder efforts to increase vaccination rates, the American Cancer Society reports.
Here are more must-know facts about the HPV vaccine from Gretchen Homan, MD, an associate professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
What cancers are caused by HPV?
Basically, more than 90 percent of both cervical and anal cancers and 70 percent of oropharyngeal cancers (those that affect the mouth and throat areas) are caused by HPV. The virus has also been linked to penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. HPV may often work in combination with other carcinogens like tobacco and alcohol to cause these cancers.
Why is the HPV vaccine so important?
We know that cervical and anal cancers are almost always caused by HPV, so if we can provide a vaccine for it, we’re greatly reducing the risk of these cancers.
Who should get the HPV vaccine?
It's recommended that all children receive the two-dose vaccine between the ages of 9 and 12, with the first dose coming as early as age 9 or 10. People who have not previously been vaccinated can also receive the vaccine up to age 26, but it’s worth noting that being vaccinated at older ages is less effective for lowering cancer risk. In special circumstances, a healthcare provider may recommend receiving the vaccine up until age 45.
Keep in mind that anyone immunized at age 15 or older needs three doses of the vaccine.
What does age have to do with the vaccination?
The vaccine is more effective if we give it earlier, when the immune response in the body is stronger, and before a person had been exposed to HPV. Once a person begins to be sexually active, no matter what their age, they may be exposed to HPV. Once that happens, a vaccine may offer less protection.
Are there different types of HPV vaccines?
All three HPV vaccines—Gardasil-9, Gardasil, and Cervarix—are considered safe by the CDC. Since 2016, only Gardasil-9 is used in the U.S. It protects against additional strains of HPV and provides broader coverage.
How safe is the vaccine?
Only a small fraction of the millions of people who’ve received the HPV vaccine experience any problems. The most common adverse effect is a local reaction, such as pain or redness at the site of the injection. Some patients may feel lightheaded, so we make sure they’ve had something to eat before receiving the vaccine and that they rest afterwards.
How long does the vaccine protection last?
At this point, there are no recommendations for booster doses of the vaccine for those who received the two-dose vaccine by age 12 or older teens and adults who complete the three-dose series. According to the CDC, people who’d received the vaccine and were followed for more than 12 years were found to still be highly protected against HPV.
Are there any other ways to prevent HPV?
Aside from being fully vaccinated, the only way to prevent HPV would be to never have sexual contact.
That said, there are some ways to reduce your risk of HPV infection, if not eliminate it entirely. If you are sexually active, limiting the number of sex partners you have may help lower your risk. So can avoiding having sex with people who have many other sex partners.
The virus can spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, so that means that using condoms can offer some protection from HPV in the areas blocked by the condom.
HPV is not spread through hugging or holding hands, or through contact with things like toilet seats, swimming pools, or sharing food or utensils.
