Assessing human papillomavirus vaccine efficacy and safety.

Clinical trials have documented the safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of the quadrivalent and bivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 virus-like particle vaccines. These vaccines have demonstrated greater than 90% efficacy in preventing HPV-related neoplasias of the lower genital tract. The quadrivalent HPV vaccine has been found to be more than 95% efficacious in preventing genital warts. These vaccines have been shown to protect against a wider range of oncogenic HPV types. Nonetheless, women must continue to have routine cervical cytologic screening. This article reviews the clinical trials document the efficacy of the HPV vaccines.