Modifiable Risk Factors Associated with Clearance of Type-Specific Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infections in a Cohort of University Students

Abstract

Background: Previous findings regarding risk factors for human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence, other than viral determinants, identified from prospective cohort studies have been inconsistent in part because study designs have differed with respect to differing HPV detection methods and varying lengths of follow-up time. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to continue the search for epidemiologic risk factors of persistent cervical HPV infections and determine what behaviors differed between those women with transient HPV infections and those women who cannot clear their type-specific HPV infections. Methods: Female university students (n = 621) in Montreal were followed for 24 months at 6-month intervals. At each visit, a cervical cell specimen was collected. HPV DNA was detected using the MY09/MY11 PCR protocol and 27 HPV genotypes were identified by the line blot assay

Reproductive Factors, Oral Contraceptive Use, and Human Papillomavirus Infection: Pooled Analysis of the IARC HPV Prevalence Surveys

“…However, only few of the studies included in that review (18) could allow for the possible confounding effect of sexual activity or provided information on long-term OC use. Among the studies not included by Green et al, two large studies (12,19) showed a direct association, one showed an inverse association (20), and several others (10,13,21,22,46,47) showed no relationship between HPV positivity and OC use.…”

Determinants of Human Papillomavirus Coinfections among Montreal University Students: The Influence of Behavioral and Biologic Factors

“…For instance, though none of the longitudinal studies of coinfections have identified condom use as a significant predictor, it was associated with decreased occurrence of coinfections in two cross-sectional studies (18,41). Although condom use has not been found to have the consistent protective effect with HPV that it has with other STIs (42,43), it is likely that when used properly, condoms convey at least some degree of protection, either by acting as a protective barrier against skin-to-skin transmission or by decreasing HPV viral load (34). OC use has also been found to have an equivocal effect on coinfection risk (15,16); however, it is also strongly associated with sexual activity, and residual confounding may exist even after adjusting for number of sexual partners (44,45).…”

“…At the same time, however, modifiable factors such as smoking status, vegetable consumption, and condom use have also been associated with the occurrence of HPV more generally (33,34), though studies of these factors in relation to coinfections have been mixed (8,(14)(15)(16)18). As such, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of both biologic and behavioral predictors on the acquisition of HPV coinfections, with a particular focus on HLA alleles as candidate immune factors.…”

Breakthroughs and Issues in HPV Genital Infections in relation to Cervical Cancer

“…Recently IARC has classified combined oral contraceptives as carcinogenic to cervix and risk is related with increase duration of use (>10 yrs) 18 . The association between smoking and HPV persistence is less consistent [22][23][24] . But IARC has classified tobacco smoking as a cause of cervical cancer 25 .…”

“…Evaluation of relationship between condom use and HPV infection have failed to demonstrate a protective effect of condoms because HPV infections is transmissible through contact with areas of unprotected genital skin 21 . [22][23][24] . But IARC has classified tobacco smoking as a cause of cervical cancer 25 .…”