Human Papillomavirus ( Hpv )

What is the Human Papillomavirus? Commonly known as HPV, it is an infection that spreads through sexual contact. There are over one hundred different types of HPV; several types cause genital warts, while other high risk strands can lead to cancer of the cervix, anus, vagina, and penis. Because HPV is often asymptomatic, many people are unaware of their infection status, and thus, their potential for transmitting the virus to a sexual partner. The significance of the Human Papillomavirus is that fifty percent of Americans who are sexually active will contract it within their lives, and at any given point there are twenty million Americans already infected with it (“By the numbers: HPV Vaccine”).

HPV is so common in the United States that nearly all men and women will contract the virus at some point during life (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). In the United States, in 2008, it is reported that 3.2 million, or one in four adolescent women, ages 14 to 19 have had or have an STD (Kostas-Polston et al., 2012). The rate of HPV cases has only increased since 2008. The prevalence of a genital infection with any HPV type was 42.5% among United States during 2013–2014 (CDC, 2017). The incidence of HPV in the United States is about 14 million people each year.

The HPV virus has gone unseen by many until the recent controversy over the vaccine. However, this virus is thought to be one of the world’s most wide spread STD’s. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 6.2 million women and men are newly infected every year” with HPV. HPV has over 100 strains, with more than thirty that are sexually transmitted. Some of these strains are known to cause cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis cancers and others can cause genital warts. “Studies have found the vaccine to be almost 100% effective in preventing diseases caused by the four HPV types covered by the vaccine—including precancers of the cervix, vulva and vagina, and genital warts” (“HPV Questions and

The incidence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in my local community Lockport, Illinois is one out of every five people have HPV and due to the vaccinations to prevent HPV, Illinois ranks 48th among the United States for incidences of HPV (Manchir, 2013). HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that is transmitted through sexual contact. HPV is transmitted during vaginal, oral, or anal sex and on rare occasions, through birth during delivery (Illinois Department of Public Health [IDPH], 2013). Surprisingly, 50 percent of men and women that are active sexually will acquire HPV during their lifetime! HPV has affected 20 million Americans and an astounding, six million additional people will become infected every year (Illinois Department of Public Health [IDPH], 2013). Although Lockport Illinois has a lower amount of people with HPV, as a public health nurse, I realize this is an issue that needs to be addressed in my local community. Awareness is the key to prevention. Teenagers, parents, and all adults need to

Since HPV is spread through sexual activity, many people believe requiring the vaccine unethical (Shi & Johnson, 2014). Recent studies have shown that groups who are at the highest risk for cervical cancer are the ones who have the lowest uptake of the HPV vaccine (Shi & Johnson, 2014). Required vaccines for school entry have been successful at making sure children are vaccinated before they enter school, regardless of their race, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and geographic location (Shi & Johnson, 2014).

Prophylactic vaccination against high risk human papilloma virus 16 and 18 represents an exciting means of protection against HPV related malignancy. However, this strategy alone, even if there is a level of cross protection against other oncogenic viruses, cannot completely prevent cervical cancer. In some countries cervical screening programs have reduced the incidence of invasive cervical cancer by up to 80 percent although this decline has now reached a plateau with current cancers occurring in patients who have failed to attend for screening or where the sensitivity of the tests have proved inadequate. Cervical screening is inevitably associated with significant anxiety for the many women who require investigation and treatment following abnormal cervical cytology. However, it is vitally important to stress the need for continued cervical screening to complement vaccination in order to optimize prevention in vaccines and prevent cervical cancer in older women where the value of vaccination is currently unclear. It is likely that vaccination will ultimately change the natural history of HPV disease by reducing the influence of the highly oncogenic types HPV 16 and 18. In the long term this is likely to lead to an increase in recommended screening intervals. HPV vaccination may also reduce

HPV vaccination is the most common used method for preventing cervical cancer in young girls ranging from age nine to eleven years old. The overall perception of the vaccine is positive by the public because of its wide use and support by state laws, school systems and medical associations. According to the American Pediatric Association the vaccine has an excellent safety record. (Nirvi,1) A reasonable amount of parents still feel skeptical about mandatory HPV vaccination on their kids and lack great knowledge regarding the vaccine’s effectiveness.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are over 100 types of HPV, but only 40 types affect the genital area and can cause genital warts and cervical cancer in women (“Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine”). In 2011 in the United States, 12,109 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer. Of those, 4,092 women died (“Cervical Cancer Statistics”). HPV is not only contracted from sexual intercourse, but also from skin to skin contact, including oral sex. The STI affects males and females involved in both homosexual and heterosexual sexual activities. Over 70 percent of sexually active individuals contract and carry HPV before the age of 80. In order to combat HPV two different brands of HPV vaccination – Gardasil and Cervarix – were created. Both include a vaccination plan of three shots over the course of six months. Gardasil was created by Merck & Co., and was licensed by the FDA in June 2006. The vaccine protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which lead to cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts. The FDA later approved Cervarix, created by GlaxoSmithKline, in 2009, which only protects against HPV types 16 and 18 (“Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine”). Originally, Gardasil was only approved for females, but three years after the release, the vaccine was approved

If I told you that Human papillomavirus (HPV) was the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and if left untreated could cause 70% of cervical cancers, would you want children to be required to get the vaccine? (Sourced) HPV vaccine is very controversial, not only because it is starting to be mandatory in the U.S but also because it is only mandatory for female children to get it. Researchers claim that the cancers associated with HPV cost $3.7 billion in 2003 alone. (Source) Cervical cancer is the second most lethal cancer to all women but should it be mandatory for only one gender even though men can carry it as well? (source)

In 2015, 30.5 % of adolescent females, and 23.6 % of adolescent males in the state of Florida had completed the HPV vaccine series, well below the Healthy People 2020 goal of 80% compliance (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP], 2017). In order to decrease the incidence of HPV and its related diseases, as an advanced practice nurse in Polk County, Florida, this author, will strongly recommend primary prevention via the HPV vaccination in compliance with the current CDC guidelines. Studies have shown that a strong recommendation from a health care provider is the most important predictor of

Among the many arguments for mandatory HPV vaccination, the foremost is that it is an important medical achievement and a major public health milestone. This vaccine has proven to be one-hundred percent effective in preventing the 4 HPV strains that are responsible for seventy percent of cervical cancers and ninety percent of genital warts. In addition, no serious side effects have been identified. Because this vaccine is a preventive measure, administration before onset of sexual activity is ideal; however, even females who have been sexually active can still benefit from this vaccination (Perkins et al., 2010). Nationally and internationally, the HPV vaccine will significantly reduce disease burden by reducing monetary and psychological costs of invasive procedures that remove precancerous and cancerous lesions. By combining vaccination with routine Pap smear screening, these public health efforts have the remarkable opportunity to eradicate cervical cancer (Ramet et al., 2011).

A couple of systematic reviews addressing these issues have concluded that there is a need for improvement in the general knowledge about HPV infection and its role as a causative agent in cervical cancer (Cuschieri, Horne, Szarewski, & Cubie, 2006; Klug, Hukelmann, & Blettner, 2008). Studies conducted in adult women show that knowledge about HPV is generally low and that awareness is even lower among high school and college students. Of those who may be aware of HPV, they do not recognize its link with cervical cancer (Anhang, Goodman, & Goldie, 2004). Brewer & Fazekas (2007) used a collection of responses from various studies that specifically examined the awareness and knowledge of HPV to determine an estimate for the level of awareness of HPV among the general American population. While responses varied greatly across studies, approximately 42% of respondents were aware of HPV and 44% were able to correctly identify HPV as being a causative agent for cervical cancer (Brewer & Fazekas,

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a virus that can cause both cervical cancer and/or genital warts. In most cases of HPV there are no symptoms and individuals are unaware that they have the virus (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.). It can be spread through vaginal, anal and oral intercourse and is the most common STI (CDC, n.d.). In 2006 a vaccine was approved to protect against the types of HPV associated with the majority of cervical cancer and genital warts (Gardasil, 2014). I have found through my clinical experience that many parents are unsure if their child should receive the HPV vaccination. There are many factors including baseline knowledge, safety, effectiveness, cost, values/beliefs

According to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). I wasn’t aware that it impacts so many people; SIECUS reports that each year there are approximately 6.2 million new cases of HPV and that 75% of people between ages 15 and 49 have had a genital HPV infection. This isn’t something that I hear about as an adult male in this country. Before conducting research, I was only aware that HPV was tied to cervical cancer and there was a vaccine for young women. In the last decade, the understanding of HPV has increased considerably. Although schools don’t require the vaccination it’s recommended that children age 11-12. People have till their mid-20’s to receive a “catch up” immunization. HPV is responsible for causing more than 90% of anal and cervical cancers, about 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and more than 60% of penile cancers and HPV is linked to 70% of oropharynx cancers (CDC, 2015). Not all people infected have complications, in fact, most people are asymptomatic and

Cervical cancer affects about 200 women in New Zealand per year and almost 70 women die every year because of it. This commonly happens to women whom are in their 30’s and often with no symptoms (Southern Cross, 2015). This problem is caused by a type of human papilloma virus or HPV which is commonly transmitted thru sexual contact and an estimated count of 80% on sexually active women are affected in their lives. About 40 types of Human Papilloma Virus are linked with