The number of young women and girls with human papilloma virus (HPV) is decreasing, which should lead to fewer cancer cases in the United States in the coming years. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) began recommending the HPV vaccine for women and girls in 2006. Researchers there say that these new study results are “exactly what we would expect.” After the vaccine became available, infection rates fell 64% to 4.3% among girls 14 to 19 and dropped 34% to 12.1% among women age 20 to 24. HPV remains the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Rates among women 25 and older did not drop, although this age group is much less likely to have been vaccinated. The rate among sexually active females 24 and under who were vaccinated was just 2.1% from 2009 to 2012, while the rate among those who weren’t vaccinated was 16.9%.
“The vaccine is more effective than we thought,” according to Debbie Saslow of the American Cancer Society. Cases of genital warts and pre-cancerous lesions for women in their 20s should begin dropping soon, followed by cases of cervical, vaginal, anal, and throat cancers in the next decade because of vaccination. Only 51% of teen girls and 33% of women under 24 had received at least one dose of the vaccine by 2012, but these study results will likely increase vaccination rates as more doctors encourage HPV vaccination. Other studies yet to be published will focus on the vaccine’s effect in young men and boys. HPV and other vaccinations are available at RVNA with a doctor’s prescription and an appointment. More information is available at 203-438-5555.
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