Impact of HPV immunization on the detection of cervical disease.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer and genital warts. The development of HPV vaccines has been a major advance in the prevention of these diseases. Recent studies have shown promising early effects of HPV immunization programs on cervical abnormalities and genital warts, with evidence of herd immunity against genital warts also emerging in Australia. Further studies are required to not only continue monitoring the effect of the HPV immunization on the incidence of these diseases, but also to establish the effect the immunization will have on cervical screening programs and the performance of colposcopy.