Scientists have determined that in the United States, the rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is increasing among women under forty who have not been vaccinated. HPV can lead to several types of cancer, the vast majority of which are preventable if the vaccine is used. The findings have been reported in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
"If we know which groups of people have the highest rates of HPV, we can do a better job of preventing cancer through vaccination and screening," said study author Andrew Brouwer, a researcher at the University of Michigan.
The researchers want to learn more about these trends with future studies. "Did everyone in this cohort have higher HPV throughout their lifetimes? Or is it more a function of biological or behavior changes when people reach this age?" Brouwer queried.
Sources: University of Michigan, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences