Free HPV vaccine curbs new cases of genital warts

Since 2007, when free vaccination against HPV for young women became available, Australia has seen a rapid decline in new cases of genital warts, researchers say. HPV, or human papillomavirus, causes genital warts and cervical cancer.

The results stem from a study of 36,055 new clients who were evaluated by researchers at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre from 2004 to 2008. During this time, genital warts were diagnosed in 3,826 individuals, or 10.6 percent.

During each quarter in 2008, the proportion of women younger than 28 years diagnosed with genital warts fell by 25.1 percent, Dr. C. K. Fairley and colleagues report in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.

By comparison, from 2004 to 2007, prior to the free HPV vaccination program, cases of genital warts actually increased by 1.8 percent per quarter among women in this age group.

By contrast, no significant decline in genital warts was noted among women over 28 years of age, the investigators say. They point out that the free vaccines were only available to women aged 26 or younger.

The drop in genital warts cases among younger women appears to have translated into a benefit for men. In 2008, cases of genital warts among heterosexual men fell by 5 percent per quarter. No change in rates was noted for homosexual men.

"These data should be of value to governments making decisions about whether to implement HPV vaccination in women and may assist in informing the choice of vaccine," Fairley and colleagues conclude.

SOURCE: Sexually Transmitted Infections, online October 15.