The HPV vaccine – What the nurse practitioner needs to know

Abstract

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a non-enveloped double stranded DNA virus with more than 100 subtypes having been described. About 30–40 subtypes can infect the anogenital tract in men and women. These fall into two groups: a) High-risk HPV types, of which HPV 16 and 18 and their relatives are the most important in causing anogenital cancer, of which by far the most important is cervical cancer b) Low-risk types mainly HPV 6 and 11 which cause genital warts Even though HPV infection of the anogenital tract is very common, it appears that only once persistent infection has set in will the HPV lead to the development of premalignant conditions of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus and in males, the penis. Fortunately persistent infection is not common and the overwhelming majority of infections, particularly in women < 35 years, will regress spontaneously and don’t persist.