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Original Article
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Volume 338:423-428 February 12, 1998 Number 7
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Natural History of Cervicovaginal Papillomavirus Infection in Young Women
Gloria Y.F. Ho, Ph.D., Robert Bierman, M.D., Leah Beardsley, N.P., Chee J. Chang, Ph.D., and Robert D. Burk, M.D.

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ABSTRACT

Background Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is highly prevalent in sexually active young women. However, precise risk factors for HPV infection and its incidence and duration are not well known.

Methods We followed 608 college women at six-month intervals for three years. At each visit, we collected information about lifestyle and sexual behavior and obtained cervicovaginal-lavage samples for the detection of HPV DNA by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot hybridization. Pap smears were obtained annually.

Results The cumulative 36-month incidence of HPV infection was 43 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 36 to 49 percent). An increased risk of HPV infection was significantly associated with younger age, Hispanic ethnicity, black race, an increased number of vaginal-sex partners, high frequencies of vaginal sex and alcohol consumption, anal sex, and certain characteristics of partners (regular partners having an increased number of lifetime partners and not being in school). The median duration of new infections was 8 months (95 percent confidence interval, 7 to 10 months). The persistence of HPV for >6 months was related to older age, types of HPV associated with cervical cancer, and infection with multiple types of HPV but not with smoking. The risk of an abnormal Pap smear increased with persistent HPV infection, particularly with high-risk types (relative risk, 37.2; 95 percent confidence interval, 14.6 to 94.8).

Conclusions The incidence of HPV infection in sexually active young college women is high. The short duration of most HPV infections in these women suggests that the associated cervical dysplasia should be managed conservatively.


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From the Departments of Epidemiology and Social Medicine (G.Y.F.H., C.J.C., R.D.B.), Pediatrics (R.D.B.), and Microbiology and Immunology (R.D.B.) and the Albert Einstein Cancer Center (G.Y.F.H., R.D.B.), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y.; and the Rutgers University Student Health Service, New Brunswick, N.J. (R.B., L.B.). Presented in part at the 14th International Papillomavirus Conference, Quebec City, Canada, July 23–28, 1995.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Burk at the Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Ullmann Bldg., Rm. 515, Bronx, NY 10461.

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