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EDITORIAL

A second peak in genital warts in later life suggests that behavioural factors explain a second peak in human papillomavirus prevalence in older women

Eric P. F. Chow A B C and Christopher K. Fairley A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, 580 Swanston Street, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.

B Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: Echow@mshc.org.au

Sexual Health 12(4) 277-278 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH15097
Submitted: 14 May 2015  Accepted: 25 May 2015   Published: 22 June 2015

Abstract

An age-based pattern of human papillomavirus (HPV) was observed among unvaccinated women in Australia, with a second peak occurring when women were in their early 50s. A similar age-based pattern for genital warts was also observed among unvaccinated Australian women, with the first peak (8.4%) occurring at age 15–20 years, which then declined gradually to 4.8% when women were aged 41–45 years; this then increased to 5.4% when women were aged 46–50 years. This data suggests that behavioural factors may explain the changes in HPV occurrence.

Additional keywords: human papillomavirus, vaccination.


References

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