Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination: Where do we go from here?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a family of over 100 related viruses that can affect many parts of the body. Approximately 30 types are known to infect the anogenital tract and are transmitted predominantly by sexual contact. Some types can lead to the development of cancer of the cervix, vulva, penis, and anus; these are called high-risk types. Those that can result in condylomas are rarely associated with cancer and are termed low-risk types [1,2]. Since HPV is not a reportable disease, there is no national surveillance data on the incidence of HPV. However, one recent nation-wide study found an HPV prevalence of 26.9 % in women 18-25 years of age [3]. This is likely an underestimate as the study utilized urine samples, which have been to shown in multipl