Human papillomavirus infection in women and its prevention

Cervical cancer is considered to be one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide, especially in developing countries. Associated risk factors are closely related to behaviour, such as an early start of sexual life, multiparity, sexual promiscuity and, more speciffically sexually transmitted infections, such as those caused by the human papillomavirus(HPV). Although HPV-16 and 18 have traditionally been regarded as the main aetiological agents ofprecancerous lesions, recent studies on HPV prevalence in the Mexican population have foundthat the distribution of virus types is different in different regions of the country, especially insouthern regions. With regard to the most prevalent type of HPV in Mexican women, type 16was identified in two out of every three women. In the last decade, important advances have been achieved in the field of immunisation. This has allowed for two vaccines to be available to offer protection against this sexually transmitted infection. Scientific evidence from clinical trials has allowed for this preventive action to benefit not only women, but also to extend this benefit to men-as participants in the transmission mechanism-, in order to decrease the incidence and mortality associated with this cancer in the medium-term. (C) 2015 Published by Masson Doyma Mexico S.A.