Quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine

Abstract

VOLUME 91 NO. 12 DECEMBER 2008 The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of over 100 viruses, 40 of which can be transmitted through mucosal cells during vaginal or anal intercourse, thereby infecting genital areas. Different HPVs infect the body in distinctive ways. In many cases there are no obvious symptoms (until late sequelae such as cervical cancer manifest themselves), but some of the viruses cause genital warts, genital lesions (abnormal cells), and some of the viruses cause cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis. Most people’s immune systems will clear HPV within two years, but sometimes the virus persists, and if untreated, may eventually cause cancer. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, and 6.2 million are newly infected every year. At least 50% of sexually active men and women will become infected with HPV at some point in their lives.1 At any given time, about 1% of the population is infected with genital warts caused by HPV.