According to a WHO report on the human papilloma virus (HPV), every year, 74,000 women die from cervical cancer in India, and Indian women are found to be most prone to cervical cancer in the world.

Poor hygiene and several partners are said to be the main causes of cervical cancer.

HPV is the most common reason and its strains 16 and 18 accounts for 1,08,900 affected cases.

Even if adolescent girls are vaccinated, there is no guarantee that they will have lifelong resistance to cervical cancer. Data reveals that of the 1, 32,000 infected cases of cervical cancer in India, 23,100 have not acquired the cancer due to the HPV-causing strains but another cause.

HPV virus can also result in anal and penile cancer. Primarily, strain 6 and 11 cause genital cancers.

Every year, around 39,600 men are affected by anal cancer in India. Merck & Co.'s Gardasil is the only vaccine that protects against strains 6 and 11, while Cervarix, from GSK, only defends against the 16 and 18 strains of HPV.