25% of U.S. women infected with HPV, says research

by Brian White (Subscribe to Brian White's posts)
Feb 28th 2007 6:09PM

This ought to make tens of millions of American women pay attention -- it's estimated that more than 25% of females in the U.S. between the ages of 14 to 59 are infected with the sexually transmitted human wart virus.

This virus, commonly known as the HPV (human papillomavirus), is the cause of most cases of cervical cancer according to U.S. health officials.

But, 25%? That's tens of millions of infections. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta said that among 20 to 24 year old women, a 44.8% figure indicated those who were infected. That's almost half of all women between 20 and 24 living in the U.S. That is, umm, quite a significant figure -- yes?

Now, since there was a newly approved FDA drug meant to vaccinate against the HPV, the conspiracy theorists may see this as fearmongering to ensure these millions of women are "vaccinated" while the drug makers rake in the dough. What's your take?

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Comments (3)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Candice 3-13-2008 @ 12:38PM

I definitely feel something is going on with this HPV issue. I myself was told in 3/05 that I tested positive for HPV after being married and with the same man for 8 years this certainly affected me emotionally and raised suspicion of infidelity. I was told surgery was required as I was at very high risk for cervical cancer. I did refuse this surgery as the risks of having complications with any future pregnancies was high along with the fact that I did not actually have cancer. I was only to find out over a year later that I did not have the virus. After obtaining a copy of my medical records I discovered that another test was completed 3 months after the positive test and it was negative. No one bothered to mention this to me until over 1 year later.
After speaking with a co-worker of mine she also had the same issue. A totally different doctor had her tested positive for HPV around the same time I was. Only to find 3 years later she never had it.

Judy 3-13-2008 @ 2:27PM

I've always heard the number was higher - that upwards of 75% of women will have HPV at some point. For some it goes away, but some carry it all their life.

I'm not sure about the vaccine. I've had HPV (got it from my first partner), and have had procedures to remove pre-cancerous cells on my cervix. I have a 12 yo daughter, and I'm on the fence about the vaccine for her. I know if we're going to do it we should soon, but I'e heard it's so painful, and it's just so new.