HPV & Cervical Cancer

Human papillomavirus disease burden, cancer causation evidence, vaccine efficacy data, and current recommendations.

Disease Overview

HPV Disease Burden

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Certain high-risk strains cause nearly all cervical cancers and significant proportions of other cancers.

80%
Sexual Active Get HPV
Lifetime risk
99.7%
Cervical Cancer
Caused by HPV
604,000
New Cancer Cases
Globally per year
342,000
Deaths Annually
From HPV cancers

Cancers Caused by HPV

HPV-Associated Cancers

  • Cervical cancer (primary)
  • Vaginal cancer (65-70% HPV-related)
  • Vulvar cancer (40-50% HPV-related)
  • Anal cancer (90% HPV-related)

Other HPV Cancers

  • Oropharyngeal cancer (70% HPV-related)
  • Penile cancer (35-40% HPV-related)
  • Low-risk HPV causes genital warts
Vaccine Information

HPV Vaccines

Highly effective vaccines protect against the high-risk HPV strains that cause most cervical and other cancers.

Gardasil 9 (9-valent)

Protects against 9 HPV types (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58). Covers 90% of cervical cancers.

HPV9 Merck

Cervarix (2-valent)

Protects against 2 high-risk types (16, 18). Covers ~70% of cervical cancers.

HPV2 GSK

Gardasil (4-valent)

Protects against 4 types (6, 11, 16, 18). No longer distributed in US (replaced by Gardasil 9).

HPV4 Legacy

Clinical Trial Efficacy

Vaccine CIN2+ Prevention Type-Specific Efficacy
Gardasil 9 97-100% 96-99% (for covered types)
Cervarix 93% >99% for types 16/18
Gardasil 4 98-100% 100% for types 6/11/16/18

CIN2+ = Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (precancerous lesions)

CDC Recommendations

Routine Vaccination

  • • Ages 11-12 (can start at 9)
  • • Two doses, 6-12 months apart
  • • If started after 15: 3 doses

Catch-Up Vaccination

  • • Ages 13-26 (if not previously vaccinated)
  • • Recommended through age 26
  • • Shared decision-making ages 27-45
Sources & Citations

Primary Sources

Related Pages

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