Is genital human papillomavirus infection always sexually transmitted?
Tay, S.K.; Ho, T.H.; Lim-Tan, S.K.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 30(3): 240-242
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-8666 PMID: 2256864 DOI: 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1990.tb03223.xDocument Number: 376249
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the genital tract was assessed in 205 women and 111 spouses by clinical exam, colposcopy and histological examination of punch biopsies. All were patients referred to the colposcopy clinic: 43 were virgins and 162 women were sexually experienced. Among the virgins 51.2% had colposcopic evidence of HPV infection, 9 had microwarts and 1 had condylomata acuminata. 86.4% of these were confirmed histologically. Among the sexually active women 69.1% had colposcopic evidence of HPV, 20.5% had microwarts and 4.5% had condylomata acuminata. 37 had neoplasia. 85.7% of Hpv cases were confirmed histologically, as were 8.0% of women without evidence of HPV. 77.1% of the 96 husbands whose wives were free of infection had HPV. Since many of the virgins, including 2 daughters of a woman with cervical cancer, had genital warts, HPV is probably transmitted by formites as well as by sexual contact.