HPV-Associated Cancers in the US Population
About 24,900 HPV-associated cancers occur each year. Learn about HPV's impact on men's and women's health.
Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. More than 40 HPV types can infect the genital areas of men and women, including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), and anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix, and rectum. These types can also infect the lining of the mouth and throat. An HPV infection can linger over time and turn normal cells into abnormal cells and then cancer.
A large study that covered 83% of the U.S. population between 1998–2003 estimated that about 24,900 HPV-associated cancers occur each year. More than 17,300 HPV-associated cancers occur yearly in women, and almost 7,600 occur yearly in men. Cervical cancer is the most common HPV-associated cancer. Nearly all cervical cancer is caused by HPV. Some cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and head and neck (oral cavity and oropharynx) are also HPV-associated.
Data Source: Watson M, Saraiya M, Ahmed F, Cardinez CJ, Reichman ME, Weir HK, Richards TB. Using population-based cancer registry data to assess the burden of human papillomavirus-associated cancers in the United States: Overview of methods. Cancer 2008;113(S10):2841–2854. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/statistics/cases.htm.
