1 Walboomers JM

Jacobs MV

Manos MM

et al. Human papillomavirus is a necessary cause of invasive cervical cancer worldwide.

2 Jemal A

Simard EP

Dorell C

et al. Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975–2009, featuring the burden and trends in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers and HPV vaccination coverage levels.

3 Chatuvedi AK

Engels EA

Pfeiffer RM

et al. Human papillomavirus and rising oropharyngeal cancer incidence in the United States.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It affects 80% of the population, with the initial infection usually occurring between 15 and 24 years of age. Persistent infection with high-risk oncogenic HPV genotypes, primarily types 16 and 18, is the cause of almost all cervical cancers.HPV is also thought to cause about 95% of anal cancers, 75% of oropharyngeal cancers, 75% of vaginal cancers, 70% of vulvar cancers, and 60% of penile cancers.Low-risk or non-oncogenic genotypes (eg, types 6 and 11) cause anogenital warts, low-grade cervical disease, and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. In the USA, the incidence of oropharyngeal cancer in men now exceeds that of cervical cancer in women, and by 2020 the annual number of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers will exceed that of cervical cancers.As a result, it is important to consider ways to expand our HPV prevention efforts to boys and men.