Women have likely heard about HPV. The basics covered were that it was a series of injections and women have no symptoms, at least the noticeable symptoms of mouth sores in herpes. HPV is a disease transmitted through “close contact” and strains 16, 18, 31, and 45 are recognized as “high risk” HPVs because their infection causes roughly 80% of cervical cancer. Because these strains carry a higher risk, this is where our research should hone focus. A new treatment that will prevent the exacerbation of HPV into cervical cancer would largely be recognized as a medical miracle, especially as sexually transmitted diseases are still prevalent in society.
Strains 33, 35, 39, 51, 52, 56, 58, and 59 are also known to contribute to cancer or at least associated with cervical cancer but not at all close to the “high risk” of the others mentioned.
An interesting fact to note is that HPV was not recognized to be cancer-causing all the way up until 2008.
Currently there is vaccine available for strains 16 and 18, so to focus new research, I would suggest funds be directed towards developing vaccine for the remaining high risk strains of HPV – 31 and 35.
