Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection andthe etiologic cause of genital warts and cervical cancer, ishighly prevalent in sexually active men and women. Althoughcervical screening procedures have significantly reduced thedisease burden associated with HPV infection, they are expensiveand abnormal results cause significant emotional distress.Therefore, prevention may be an effective strategy for reducingthe economic, psychosocial, and disease burden of HPV infection.Multivalent vaccines are now in clinical development. A bivalentvaccine that protects against HPV 16 and 18, and a quadrivalentvaccine which protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, havebeen shown to significantly reduce the occurrence of incident andpersistent HPV infections in phase 2 clinical trials; phase 3trials are currently underway. HPV vaccines will be most effectivewhen administered prior to initiation of sexual activity, andvaccination campaigns should aggressively target preadolescent andadolescent populations.

David  Soper

Reducing the Health Burden of HPV Infection Through Vaccination

Vaccines that protect against infection with the types of humanpapillomavirus (HPV) commonly associated with cervical cancer (HPV16 and 18) and genital warts (HPV 6 and 11) are expected to becomeavailable in the near future. Because HPV vaccines areprophylactic, they must be administered prior to exposure to thevirus, ideally during preadolescence or adolescence. The young ageof the target vaccination population means that physicians,parents, and patients will all be involved in the decision-makingprocess. Research has shown that parents and patients are morelikely to accept a vaccine if it is efficacious, safe, reasonablypriced, and recommended by a physician. Widespread education ofphysicians, patients, and parents about the risks and consequencesof HPV infection and the benefits of vaccination will beinstrumental for fostering vaccine acceptance.

Bernard  Gonik

Strategies for Fostering HPV Vaccine Acceptance

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common newly diagnosedsexually transmitted infection in the United States. Although themajority of sexually active adults will be infected with HPV atleast once in their lives, it is sexually active women less than25 years of age who consistently have the highest rates ofinfection. Besides youth and gender, common risk factors for HPVinfection and clinical sequelae of infection include high numberof sexual partners and coinfection with Chlamydiatrachomatis or herpes simplex virus. Most HPV infections arecleared by the immune system and do not result in clinicalcomplications. Clinical sequelae in cases of low-risk HPVinfection consist of genital warts, and clinical manifestations ofhigh-risk HPV infection include abnormal Pap test results,low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), high-gradesquamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), and cervical cancer.LSIL, HSIL, and cervical cancer carry significant morbidity and/ormortality; genital warts and abnormal Pap test results are oftensignificant sources of psychosocial distress. Currently, there areneither effective means of preventing HPV transmission nor curesfor clinical manifestations: infection can only be prevented viacomplete sexual abstinence, while treatment for clinical sequelaesuch as genital warts and cytologic abnormalities consists ofremoving the problematic cells and watching for recurrence; thismethod consumes significant health care resources and is costly.New prophylactic HPV vaccines promise to dramatically reduce theincidence of HPV infection, genital warts, and cytologicabnormalities.

Kevin A. Ault

Epidemiology and Natural History of Human Papillomavirus Infections in the Female Genital Tract

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Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology publishes articles related to infectious diseases in women’s health. Topics include diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract infections, and infections in pregnancy.

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Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology publishes articles related to infectious diseases in women’s health. Topics include diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract infections, and infections in pregnancy.

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Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology

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Papers are published upon acceptance, regardless of the Special Issue publication date.

Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology

CME Supplement: Recent Advances in the Prevention of Cervical Cancer and Other Human Papillomavirus Related Diseases

CME Supplement: Recent Advances in the Prevention of Cervical Cancer and Other Human Papillomavirus Related Diseases

Articles

Reducing the Health Burden of HPV Infection Through Vaccination

Strategies for Fostering HPV Vaccine Acceptance

Epidemiology and Natural History of Human Papillomavirus Infections in the Female Genital Tract