Do HPV infections cause cancer?
Infection with certain types of HPV is the major cause of cervical cancer. Almost all women will have an HPV infection at some point, but very few will develop cervical cancer. The immune system of most women will usually suppress or eliminate HPVs. Only HPV infections that are persistent (do not go away over many years) can lead to cervical cancer. In 2009, more than 11,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with this type of cancer and about 4,000 will die from it. Cervical cancer strikes nearly half a million women each year worldwide, claiming more than a quarter of a million lives. Studies have found that HPV infection is also a strong risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer (cancer that forms in tissues of the oropharynx, which is the middle part of the throat and includes the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils) (1, 2). Studies also suggest that HPVs may play a role in cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, and penis. • Can HPV infection be prevented? The su
