Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and
Cervical Cancer Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is sexually
transmitted, causes most cases of cervical cancer. Cervical
cancer used to be one of the most common causes of cancer death
in women in the United States. Today, cervical cancer is one of
the most preventable cancers. Lives are saved because more women
are routinely screened with a Pap test (also called a Pap
smear). A recent breakthrough in cervical cancer prevention came
with the development of a vaccine for HPV. There are two kinds
of HPV (HPV-16 and HPV-18) that cause 70 percent of all cervical
cancers. HPV is very common. By the time they are 50, most
American women who have had sex have been exposed to the virus.
Like all women, young women can avoid infection with HPV by
practicing safer sex and by not having sex. Condoms can’t give
complete protection against HPV because the virus can infect
areas that are not covered by a condom. Avoiding HPV is the most
important way to reduce a wo