Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. It infects 6.2 million new people each year and more than 50% of all sexually active adults at some point in their lives. There are over forty strains of HPV that can infect the genital area. The symptoms of infection can be mild and can clear away by themselves, but can also manifest as genital warts or abnormal growth leading to cancer. Cervical cancer can be caused by the highrisk strains of HPV and is diagnosed in more than 12,000 women annually. There is no test or treatment for the virus itself, but it is important that women receive Pap tests to check for possible cancerous growth. One effective way to protect against being exposed to the highrisk strains of HPV is the new HPV vaccine, which can prevent 70% of cervical cancers. HPV can currently be linked to 4,000 annual deaths from cervical cancer as well as thousands of other cases of genital cancers. Despite the prevalence and consequences of HPV, there may be cause to believe that many young adults are still not clear about how HPV is transmitted and how it affects their health.
The Cornell Women’s Health Alliance at Cornell University conducted a short, anonymous survey that consisted of a variety of questions to determine the Cornell community’s knowledge of HPV. From 2007 to Cornell Women’s Health Alliance Survey Shows Cornell Students are Unsure about HPV 2009, this survey was conducted during the 2008 Club Fest, distributed in an assortment of classes, and passed out in events held by the Cornell Women’s Health Alliance. Although a majority of the participants were able to identify what HPV stood for, the rest of the statistics show how little knowledge they had on the actual means of prevention and how the virus is transmitted. This data was consistent across different concentrations and majors (Figure 4). In the survey of 376 participants, 77% were females (Figure 1). Although males were under-represented, CWHA was encouraged to find that a majority of its participants in the survey were female students, who are also the main target for HPV. A study of female college students concluded that 60% were infected after four years at college. (1) This shocking percentage raises alarm to how little is known about HPV prevention among college-aged women.
A disturbing factor that might account for why there is so little awareness for HPV is due to the fact that there are often no signs or symptoms that show a woman she has contracted HPV. The virus can, therefore, be passed on to others and spread without anyone’s realization. This leads to the question of how HPV is transmitted. In the survey of Cornell students, about 63% believe HPV is transmitted only through sex. However, HPV can be transmitted through any kind of sexual activity that involves genital contact, not just intercourse1. HPV can also be passed through sexual intercourse even when a condom is used. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, condoms may lower the risk of HPV if used all the time and correctly but it does not have 100% reliability. Among Cornell students, the majority, around 41%, believes condom and safe sex as a means of protection. However, the CDC also claims HPV can infect areas not protected by a condom, increasing a woman’s risk of contracting the virus. A main concern of the detrimental effects of HPV is that HPV Types 16 and 18 cause cervical cancer. In fact, these two types cause approximately 70% of cervical cancer. (1) Since HPV is a virus, there is no “cure”, but occasional pap tests can help women check for signs of cervical cancer.
Over 50% of the respondents claimed to be sexually active (Figure 3), which adds to the increased need for HPV education and prevention. Education is needed continuously, as new graduating classes are entering Cornell with relatively limited information on the costs and consequences of HPV (Figure 2).
The need for increased awareness of HPV is also seen by the alarming statistic that 80% of sexually active college students will be infected by graduation. (2) Thus, it is important to have regular Pap smears for early detection of HPV and watch out for some of the changes caused by HPV such as warts or cervical changes. In addition, Cornell’s Gannet Health Services offers a vaccine for women that protects against certain strains of HPV through a series of shots over a six-month period. For more information on HPV prevention, feel free to contact Gannet Health Services.
Since college students are at such great risk for HPV, it is vitally important to educate undergraduates about the modes of transmission of the disease. The survey conducted on Cornell’s campus demonstrates the lack of knowledge about HPV causes and prevention. The startling statistic that most students believe HPV can be prevented with use of a condom is a testament to this lack of necessary knowledge. A program emphasizing commonly held myths about HPV, along with the measures already currently taken may have potential in imparting necessary knowledge. College healthcare providers can also have a large part in educating young women about the HPV vaccine and their own risk potential. (4)
1. HPV.com. Merck & Co., Inc., 2009. Web. Nov. 2009.
2. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Ithaca, NY: Gannet Health Services.
3. CDC Fact Sheet: Genital HPV. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007.
4. “HPV Vaccine Information for Young Women.” cdc.gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 June 2008. Web. 16 Nov. 2009.
For more information regarding Cornell Women’s Health Alliance or this survey please email Renata at rew36@cornell.edu.