Final answer:
About 42.5 percent of females aged 14 to 59 have been exposed to HPV, with the highest prevalence in those aged 20 to 24 years at 53.8 percent. Vaccines like Gardasil® and Cervarix® have effectively reduced infection rates. Vaccination is recommended for preteens and can be given up to age 21 for males and 26 for females.
Step-by-step explanation:
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Studies have shown that 42.5 percent of females aged 14 to 59 have been exposed to HPV at the time of testing. This prevalence varies by age, with the highest being 53.8 percent among females aged 20 to 24 years. HPV infection can lead to serious health issues like genital warts and cervical cancer. Due to its high infection rate, vaccines like Gardasil® and Cervarix® have been developed to target high-risk strains of HPV. Since its introduction, the HPV vaccine has successfully cut the rates of infection by at least half for the targeted strains.Vaccination is key in controlling the spread of HPV. It is recommended for all children between the ages of 11 and 12, and can still be administered up to age 21 for males and 26 for females to prevent HPV-related cancers.