Rates of precancerous lesions that can develop into cervical cancer have fallen among young women in the U.S., likely due to widespread use of the HPV vaccine. (Image credit: Naeblys via Getty Images)
The United States has seen a significant decline in the number of positive cervical cancer tests, indicating precancerous conditions, due to increased rollout of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which prevents the leading cause of cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer begins in the cells of the cervix, which connects the uterus to the vagina. Each year in the United States, 11,500 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and about 4,000 die from the disease.
Almost all cervical cancers — more than 90% — are caused by infection with high-risk types of HPV, which can be spread through sexual contact. The disease can develop in anyone with a cervix at any age, but is most often diagnosed in people between the ages of 35 and 44.
The HPV vaccine, first approved for use in the U.S. in 2006, protects against HPV infections, which are responsible for most cervical cancers. Since the vaccine’s introduction, HPV vaccination rates have steadily increased in the country, reaching an estimated 76.8% of the eligible population in 2023.
The rate of detection of precancerous lesions during cervical cancer screening has dropped by about 80% since 2008, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show.
Cervical cancer screening, which includes Pap tests, aims to detect precancerous changes, or clumps of cells in the cervix that have the potential to become cancer. If successful, screening can detect these cells years before they become cancers, making treatment easier. In the early stages of the disease, treatment may include laser surgery or cryotherapy.
To analyze cervical cancer screening results over time, a new analysis published Feb. 27 in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) looked at a combination of private and public insurance and survey data. It focused on women ages 20 to 24, who are most likely to be vaccinated against HPV, as well as women ages 25 to 29, who are less likely to be vaccinated.
The CDC recommends that all children be vaccinated against HPV at age 11 to 12. However, vaccination can begin as early as age 9, and at later ages for those who were not vaccinated as children. People typically receive two or three doses of the vaccine, spaced one to 12 months apart.
The first dose of HPV vaccine is recommended to be administered at the age of
Sourse: www.livescience.com
