“Far fewer cervical cancer screening tests are coming back positive for precancer in the United States thanks to the widespread adoption of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which prevents the main cause of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer develops in cells of the cervix, which connects the womb to the vagina. Each year, around 11,500 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S., and 4,000 people die annually from the disease.

Nearly all cervical cancer cases — over 90% — are caused by infection with high-risk types of HPV, viruses that can spread from person to person through sexual contact…

The HPV vaccine, which was first approved for use in the U.S. in 2006, protects against the HPV infections that cause most cervical cancer. Since the vaccine’s introduction in the country, U.S. rates of HPV vaccination have increased steadily, reaching an estimated 76.8% of the eligible population in 2023.

Now, according to a new analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, rates of precancerous lesions detected during cervical cancer screening have fallen by about 80% since 2008.”

From Live Science.