WORLDWIDE CONTACT US ABOUT US INVENTING FOR LIFE PRODUCTS RESEARCH LICENSING NEWSROOM CAREERS INVESTORS Home MARCH 4 IS INTERNATIONAL HPV AWARENESS DAY A day to raise awareness of HPV and HPV-related cancers and diseases. March 4, 2018 is the first-ever annual International Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Awareness Day. Merck is excited to rally around this new annual milestone, which shines a spotlight on HPV and helps raise much needed awareness. A COMMON VIRUS THAT CAUSES CERTAIN CANCERS IN BOTH MEN AND WOMEN Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is a common virus that can have potentially serious consequences. How common, you ask? So common, that HPV will infect most sexually-active people in their lifetime! For most people, HPV clears on its own. But, for others who don't clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers and diseases later in life. And there’s no way to predict who will or won’t clear the virus. And HPV doesn’t discriminate. In fact, both men and women are at risk for the cancers and diseases it can cause. In women, HPV can cause cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancer. It can also cause anal cancer and genital warts in both women and men. THE IMPACT OF HPV ~14Million The estimated number of people in the U.S. infected with HPV each year. ~25,000 The estimated number of people in the U.S. diagnosed with an HPV-related cancer each year. ~70 The estimated number of people in the U.S. diagnosed with an HPV-related cancer each day. The number of treatment options for HPV infection. While there may be treatments available for certain HPV-related cancers and diseases, there is no treatment available for HPV infection. THE IMPORTANCE OF RAISING AWARENESS “ You have to talk about it, and talking about my story and sharing my story is my way of advocating.” Laura Fletcher, three-time cervical cancer survivor After having survived cervical cancer three times Laura hopes that her story will help raise awareness about HPV-related cancers. HEAR OTHER PATIENT STORIES Quita's Story Michele's Story Maggie's Story Tricia's Story THE TIME IS NOW Talk to your doctor to get educated about HPV and HPV-related cancers. This International HPV Awareness Day, take action by raising awareness about HPV. Published March 2018 Copyright. © 2009-2018 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Forward-Looking Statement Privacy Terms of Use Site Map