Surveillance for Cervical Precancer in the Era of the HPV Vaccine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 cause about 70% of cervical cancers. To better define the impact of HPV vaccination on incidence of precancerous cervical abnormalities in the U.S., CDC investigators examined the number of precancers as well as the proportion attributable to HPV16/18 (the viral types included in the vaccine since its introduction in 2006) among women (age range, 18–39) participating in a population-based surveillance program.

Between 2008 and 2014, the number of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade ≥2 (CIN2+) fell by 21% and the proportion of cervical samples positive for HPV16/18 fell from 53% to 44%. The declines were greatest among younger vaccinated women. However, even among unvaccinated women, …