Report to Congress: Prevention of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection

This report discusses the epidemiology of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection as well as its transmission and prevention. HPV is primarily transmitted by genital contact through sexual intercourse. The report discusses studies on reducing transmission by reducing the duration of infectiousness by treatment, reducing infectivity (condoms, microbicides), reducing the number of sex partners, and the development of vaccines that reduce susceptibility by stimulating the immune system. A personal prevention approach of avoiding contact with genital HPV, by limiting the number and type of sexual partners is recommended at this time. Additional individual and public health strategies to prevent genital HPV infection are suggested.