HPV and Genital Herpes Prevention and Treatment

Prevention Strategies

The American College of Physicians recommends vaccination as the cornerstone of HPV prevention, with routine immunization recommended for all males and females aged 11-12 years, as it prevents approximately 90% of cervical and other HPV-related cancers 1
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that condom use reduces HPV infection risk by approximately 70% when used consistently and correctly 1
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that suppressive antiviral therapy in infected partners reduces transmission to serodiscordant partners 2, 3
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that condom use during all sexual exposures with new or uninfected partners reduces transmission risk 3

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all women should have Pap test screening within 3 years of sexual activity or by age 21 years, whichever comes first 1
The American Cancer Society suggests that women aged >30 years with three consecutive normal Pap tests should be screened every 2-3 years 1
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that routine serologic screening is NOT recommended in asymptomatic individuals with low pretest probability 3

The American College of Physicians recommends that HPV infections themselves are not treated; only HPV-associated lesions are managed 5
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that treatment options for cervical, vaginal, and vulvar precursors include cryotherapy, electrocautery, laser therapy, and surgical excision 1
The American Academy of Dermatology states that genital warts can be treated with topical pharmacologic agents including imiquimod 3.75% cream 1
The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends that first clinical episode of genital herpes should be treated with valacyclovir 1 g orally twice daily, acyclovir 400 mg orally three times daily, or famciclovir 250 mg orally three times daily for 7-10 days 3

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that suppressive-dose acyclovir starting at week 36 prevents HSV recurrences requiring cesarean delivery 6, 7
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that HIV-infected individuals should receive 3-dose HPV vaccination series at ages 11-12 years or catch-up through age 26 if not previously vaccinated 1

The American College of Physicians states that genital HSV-1 has less shedding and fewer recurrences compared to HSV-2, particularly after the first year 4, 7
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that approximately 60% of individuals exposed to HSV-2 do not develop symptoms, yet can still transmit the virus 8, 9

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that neither routine surveillance for HPV infection nor partner notification is useful for prevention, as the majority of partners are already infected 1
The Infectious Diseases Society of America states that suppressive therapy for genital HSV-1 has not been shown to reduce transmission to sexual partners 4, 7