17: Behavior Associated With Human Papillomavirus Prevalence and Type Distribution in Young Heterosexual Men

Abstract

her incident type was detected. Sites tested in men were: tongue/ buccal mucosa, palm, foreskin, glans, shaft, scrotum, perianal area. Sites detected in women were: tongue/buccal mucosa, palm, vulva, vagina, cervix and intra-anus. HPV testing used PCR to detect 37 types (Roche Molecular Systems). Comparisons were analyzed with two-sided Fisher exact test. Results: Twenty five couples with a mean relationship length of 3 years were enrolled. Seventeen (17) women had a persistent infection defined as continued detection at baseline. Eight (8) women had a transient infection; defined as the incident type no longer detected at baseline visit. Of the women with persistence, 10 (59%) had the persistent type detected in their partner in the anogential area, one woman had anogenital concordance with her partner but with a type other than the incident type. Of the women with transient infections, only 1 (12.5%) male partner had the incident infection type detected; 4 partners were HPV negative and 2 were concordant for a type other than the incident type. Of the 13 concordant couples at baseline, 11 couples had the same type detected in their respective anogenital areas. Of the two couples who were discordant in their anogenital sites, the type was found in either the hand or mouth. Conclusions: Women with persistence are much more likely to have the same type detected in their partners than women with transient HPV infections (p 0.04). The high rate of type-specific HPV concordance in the anogenital area between couples was striking, supporting the ease to which HPV is transmitted between couples. Although the palm and mouth were uncommon sources for infections, when anogenital type-specific discordance occurs, the discordant type can be found in non-genital areas of the anogenital negative partner. Sources of Support: NIH/ORWH 1K12 HD051953-01. USPHS 5 M01 RR-01271 American Cancer Society #92-026-12. Investigators Initiated Sponsored Programs Merck & Co., Inc, the opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Merck & Co., Inc.