Attitudes of adolescent/young adult women toward human papillomavirus vaccination and clinical trials.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It often inflicts adolescents and young adults shortly after onset of sexual activity. More than 30 types of HPV infect the anogenital area; some HPV types cause cervical cancer in women decades after infection, whereas other types cause genital warts in both men and women within a year after infection. Vaccines are being developed against oncogenic and wart-producing HPV. Knowledge of HPV and attitudes toward HPV vaccination/clinical trial participation among 60 female adolescents and young adults were evaluated. Knowledge of HPV in this group was limited, but almost all participants would be interested in receiving vaccines that prevented cervical cancer and genital warts. Only 30% were likely to participate in an HPV clinical trial that required shots and pelvic examinations. A key motivating factor for clinical trial participation was the potential for a vaccine to help other women.