Final answer:
Most people infected with HPV do not develop cancer due to the efficient response of the immune system, which typically clears the virus within two years. High-risk HPV strains can lead to cervical cancer if the infection persists, but the availability of HPV vaccines has helped reduce infection rates and, along with regular screenings, significantly lower the risk of cancer development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The majority of people infected with HPV do not develop cancer because the body's immune system is often capable of clearing the virus naturally, usually within two years of infection. HPV is categorized into high-risk and low-risk strains, with the high-risk types like HPV 16 and HPV 18 linked to over 70 percent of all cervical cancer diagnoses. Despite this, even high-risk HPV infections may be cleared by the immune system over time, preventing the progression to cancer. In the event that the HPV infection persists, it can cause disruptions in normal cellular functions and potentially lead to the development of precancerous changes in the cells of the cervix.
Additionally, with the introduction of HPV vaccines like Gardasil and Cervarix®, the prevalence of the high-risk HPV infections that cause cervical cancer has been significantly reduced. These vaccines, along with regular screenings such as Pap tests, play crucial roles in early detection and prevention of cervical cancer development in individuals with cervix.