Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer and more than 100 types of HPV have been identified. Detection of HPV from cervical samples is associated with a 250 times increased risk of high grade cervical neoplasm. Approximately 30 HPV types were reported to infect primarily the squamous epithelium of the lower anogenital tracts of men and women. Worldwide, Cervical Cancer is much more common particularly in countries without screening programs, with an estimated 530,000 new cases of the disease and 275,000 resultant deaths each year (Farlay J, et al. 2008 and Arbyn M, et al 2011). When cervical cancer screening programs have been introduced into communities, marked reductions in cervical cancer incidence have followed (Gustafsson L, et al 1997).

Human Papillomavirus is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the United States in women, with approximately 6.2 million cases diagnosed annually. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 12,170 new cases of cervical cancer in the United States in 2012, with 4,220 deaths from the disease ( Siegel R et al. 2012).

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of the presentation, the learners should know:
1. What is Human Papilloma virus (HPV)
2. HPV is the primary causal factor of cervical cancer and cervical disease in Women
3. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections the the USA
4. HPV vaccines are available for young men and young women
5. Why is HPV testing important in women?