New data reveals persistent HPV infection risk in U.S. women over age 27, challenging vaccination age norms

New research shows HPV infection risk continues throughout adulthood, with a secondary peak after age 60, highlighting the need for vaccination in older women.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 2, 2026, 3:42 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the International Journal of Infectious Diseases

Shifting Paradigms in Lifelong HPV Risk

For years, public health messaging has focused almost exclusively on HPV prevention in adolescents and young adults. However, a major real-world study utilizing electronic health records from over 300,000 women has revealed that the risk of acquiring a newly detected HPV infection does not end at age 26. The research demonstrates that while incidence is highest in women in their late 20s, a substantial percentage of women continue to test positive for the virus throughout their 30s, 40s, and beyond. This data provides critical context for the 2018 FDA expansion of the 9-valent HPV vaccine for adults up to age 45, emphasizing that older adults are not immune to new infections.

A Bimodal Pattern of Infection

One of the study's most striking revelations was the discovery of a bimodal trend in HPV incidence. While the highest cumulative incidence of 21.1% was observed in women aged 27–29, researchers noted a secondary increase in detections after age 60. Clinical experts suggest this later-life peak may be attributed to two distinct factors: the acquisition of new infections due to changing sexual behaviors in older age, such as new partnerships, and the potential reactivation of latent infections as the immune system matures. This suggests that the "window of risk" for HPV-related complications, including cervical and oropharyngeal cancers, is far broader than previously estimated.

Disparities in Regional and Racial Incidence

The study identified significant disparities in how HPV affects different populations across the United States. Black women and women residing in the Southern U.S. experienced the highest incidence rates, with Black women showing a five-year cumulative incidence of 17.3% in some samples. Furthermore, socioeconomic status appeared to be a major risk factor; Medicaid enrollees had an incidence rate of 21.6%, nearly double that of some commercially insured groups. These statistics highlight an urgent need for targeted outreach and better access to preventive care in underserved communities to address the 45,000 annual cancer cases linked to the virus.