
Treatment GuideJust DiagnosedSex & DatingAfrican AmericanStigmaAsk the HIV DocPrEP En EspañolNewsVoicesPrint IssueVideoOut 100
CONTACTCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Scroll To Top
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
When it comes to the cancer-causing human papillomavirus, or HPV, young women with HIV may not be that different from their HIV-negative sisters. HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection, spreads through oral, genital, or anal contact and can sometimes lead to cancer. It's long been assumed that most HIV-positive women also carry HPV's particularly dangerous strains, which often cause cervical and oral cancers. But a recent study from the University of Cincinnati found that many of the young HIV-positive female participants did not have those HPV strains and thus could benefit from the HPV vaccine. A recent report on the findings by the National AIDS Treatment Activist Project advocated the same thing. That means HIV-positive teen girls and young women could soon be strongly encouraged to receive the vaccine in the form of a shot of Gardasil or Cervarix (a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel has recommended that 11- and 12-year-old boys receive the vaccine as well). It's important for people to be vaccinated as young as possible, say physicians, as the risk for HPV increases as people age and become sexually active or increase their number of sexual partners. Knowing that, University of Cincinnati researchers focused on very young women in their study'the average age was 21, and many subjects were in their teens. Only about 15% of the women studied tested positive for HPV types 16 and/or 18, the strains known as cancer-causers. Compared to women of other races, African-American women appeared more susceptible to carrying the dangerous HPV strains, as were those with high HIV viral loads. Those women who had vaginal sex within three months of the clinical trial were also more likely to have HPV types 16 and 18. It's important to remember that the findings don't mean HIV-positive young women should be afraid of sex. Rather, it serves as a reminder to talk to your doctor or health professional about HPV, cancer, and preventive measures you can take against both. Persistent and sustained HPV infection is the largest risk factor for cervical cancer, according to medical professionals. HIV and other disorders that suppress the immune system increase the risk too, as does smoking. If you're concerned about HPV or cancer, ask your doctor for a Pap smear, which involves scraping cells from the cervix and examining them for troubling signs. While the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently released new guidelines that say women under the age of 21 should not receive Pap smears'since the chances of cancer are so slim'that recommendation is for those without compromised immune systems, which HIV-positive women have. While no discussion involving cancer is ever fun, there is some good news. Thanks to the new health care reform law, more comprehensive preventive care services will be available with no out-of-pocket costs. The changes go into effect August 1 and include testing for HPV as well as HIV counseling.
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Lexi Love comes out as HIV+ after Trump deletes federal resources
January 23 2025 11:23 AM
Ricky Martin delivers showstopping performance for 2024 World AIDS Day
December 05 2024 12:08 PM
Trump's orders prompt CDC to erase HIV resources
January 31 2025 5:29 PM
California confirms first case of even more deadly mpox strain
November 18 2024 3:02 PM
This long-term HIV survivor says testosterone therapy helped save his life.
December 16 2024 8:00 PM
Plus: Featured Video
Latest Stories
HRC holds 'die-in' to protest Trump health care cuts
April 28 2025 2:11 PM
The Talk Season 5 premieres this spring with HIV guidance for the newly diagnosed
March 26 2025 1:00 PM
Jess King is here to help you live your happiest, healthiest life yet
March 24 2025 4:35 PM
Gerald Garth is keeping people of color happy and healthy through trying times
March 11 2025 3:38 PM
'RuPaul's Drag Race' star Trinity K Bonet quietly comes out trans
December 15 2024 6:27 PM
Hollywood must do better on HIV representation
December 01 2024 9:00 AM
Post-election blues? Some advice from mental health experts
November 08 2024 12:36 PM
Two right-wing Supreme Court justices signal they may uphold access to PrEP and more
April 21 2025 4:10 PM
500,000 Children at Risk: PEPFAR Funding Crisis
April 08 2025 3:51 PM
Discover the power of Wellness in your life
March 26 2025 12:41 PM
BREAKING NEWS: Trump admin moves to end federal HIV prevention programs
March 18 2025 6:10 PM
Celebrating Black History Month with our annual African American issue
February 01 2025 3:28 PM
Plus nominated for 2025 GLAAD Media Award
January 22 2025 12:42 PM
AIDS Memorial Quilt displayed at White House for the first time
December 02 2024 1:21 PM
Broadway's best raise over $1 million for LGBTQ+ and HIV causes
April 03 2025 7:15 PM
Season 4 of The Switch on resilience & radical self-love returns this spring
March 26 2025 12:20 PM
Tyler TerMeer vows to continue to fight for health care for all
January 28 2025 3:00 PM
A camp for HIV-positive kids is for sale. Here's why its founder is celebrating
January 02 2025 12:21 PM
Decades of progress, uniting to fight HIV/AIDS
December 01 2024 12:30 PM
Climate change is disrupting access to HIV treatment
November 25 2024 11:05 AM