Transmission of HPV in Couples
Author Information
Author(s): Hernandez Brenda Y., Wilkens Lynne R., Zhu Xuemei, Thompson Pamela, McDuffie Katharine, Shvetsov Yurii B., Kamemoto Lori E., Killeen Jeffrey, Ning Lily, Goodman Marc T.
Primary Institution: University of Hawaii, Manoa, Hawaii, USA
Hypothesis
How is human papillomavirus (HPV) transmitted between heterosexual couples?
Conclusion
HPV transmission rates are higher from women to men than from men to women, with various genotypes being transmitted through different anatomical sites.
Supporting Evidence
- HPV transmission from the cervix to the penis occurred at a rate of 17.4 per 100 person-months.
- Transmission from the penis to the cervix was observed at a rate of 4.9 per 100 person-months.
- Couples who transmitted HPV were more sexually active and used condoms less frequently.
Takeaway
HPV can easily spread between partners during sex, and women are more likely to pass it to men than the other way around.
Methodology
The study followed 25 heterosexual couples over an average of 7.5 months, collecting samples for HPV DNA detection and analyzing transmission events.
Potential Biases
Potential for misclassification of HPV transmission events and reliance on self-reported data may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study may have misclassified transmission events and relied on self-reported sexual activity, which could introduce recall bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 25 heterosexual couples, with a mean age of 28 years for men and 26 years for women, comprising various racial backgrounds.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.6–10.0 for male-to-female transmission; 95% CI 10.6–25.8 for female-to-male transmission.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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