Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States. There are about 40 types of genital HPV. About 20 million people in the U.S. are infected and another 6.2 million more people are infected each year1. The majority of these cases are in females between 20 and 24 years old. The following is a breakdown of the prevalence of infection in women in the United States1:
24.5% prevalence of HPV among females 14 to 19 years old 44.8% prevalence of HPV among females 20 to 24 years old 27.4% prevalence of HPV among females 25 to 29 years old 27.5% prevalence of HPV among females 30 to 39 years old 25.2% prevalence of HPV among females 40 to 49 years old 19.6% prevalence of HPV among females 50 to 59 years old
Most HPV infections do not cause any symptoms and go away on their own. Due to this, a person may not know the virus is present, so more than 50% of sexually active women and men are infected with one type of HPV at some point in their lives.
However, of the 40 types of HPV, 16 types are considered high-risk. These types, especially Types 16 and 18, are linked to cervical cancer in women. This cancer affects around 10,000 U.S. women each year, causing 3,700 deaths2. This is the third leading cause of cancer deaths among women around the world and the seventh-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Between the years 2000 and 2003, there were 505 documented diagnoses of cervical cancer in Connecticut3. HPV is also associated with several less common types of cancers in both women and men.
Although there is a vaccine for HPV, there is no treatment for an infection. However, the conditions caused by infection can be treated.
The purpose of this proposal is to reduce the number of HPV and related cervical cancer cases in the state of Connecticut. Although this virus tends to be more prevalent in the Southeast, it also occurs in our state. We hope that the project proves useful so that similar programs can be implemented in other states in the near future, and in other countries soon after.
It is necessary for women to have somewhere to go for information and help. This project will give women, especially those uninsured or underinsured, in our state the opportunity to receive information, screenings, and other help related to HPV and cervical cancer. It will provide free or reduced HPV vaccinations and Pap smears. The project will also educate children and young adults about the virus. A small portion of the project will be based on research done within the state. Hopefully the research done here will be able to help others around the country and the world.
References:
1. Genital HPV Infection- CDC Fact Sheet
2. Journal of the American Medical Association, 2007
3. Connecticut Department of Public Health Tumor Registry