Stable marital relationship protects men from oral and genital HPV infections

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are associated with sexual behavior. Changes in the sexual habits of couples and their impact on male genital and oral HPV infections were determined during 7 years of follow-up (FU). At baseline and 7 years FU, urethral, semen/penile, and oral samples were collected from 46 men and cervical and oral samples of their spouses for HPV DNA detection. Demographic data and risk factors of spouses were recorded by questionnaire at both time points and analyzed for concordance. HPV genotyping was done with the Multimetrix® kit. At baseline, 29.5 % of the male genital and 11 % of their oral samples tested positive. Incident genital HPV infection was found in 23 % and oral infection in 10.9 % of men. Genotype-specific persistence was detected in one man (HPV53) in genital samples. Moderate to almost perfect concordance of changes in sexual habits during FU among spouses were found. Changing partners [p = 0.028; odds ratio (OR) = 15; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.355-166.054] and marital status (p = 0.001; 95 % CI 0.000-0.002) increased the risk of incident genital HPV infections. The overall outcome of genital HPV disease in men was linked to the frequency of sexual intercourse (p = 0.023; 95 % CI 0.019-0.026) and changes in marital status (p = 0.022; 95 % CI 0.019-0.026), while oral HPV infections were associated with the number of sexual partners (p = 0.047; 95 % CI 0.041-0.052). Taken together, asymptomatic genital HPV infections among the men were common. The risk of incident genital HPV infections increased among men reporting a change of sexual partner during FU, implicating that a stable marital relationship protects against oral and genital HPV infection.

HPV Infections in Heterosexual Couples: Mechanisms and Covariates of Virus Transmission

“…A study has implicated that a stable marital relationship protects against oral and genital HPV. Changing the sexual partner ( p = 0.028) and marital status (especially divorce) ( p = 0.001) increases the risk of incident genital HPV infections [26]. …”

Epidemiology of HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…Genital HPV disease in men was linked to the frequency of sexual intercourse (p = 0.023; 95 % CI, 0.019-0.026) and changes in marital status (p = 0.022; 95 % CI, 0.019-0.026), while oral HPV infections were associated with the number of sexual partners (p = 0.047; 95 % CI, 0.041-0.052) (Kero et al 2014b). Only one man expressed the same HPV genotype (HPV53, a probable high-risk type) in genital samples at baseline and 7 year followup (Kero et al 2014b). Additional natural history studies are necessary to clarify these and other factors so critical to a better understanding of HPV infection, transmission and persistence, and the ability to combat progression of HPV infection to cancer.…”

“…In the Finnish Family HPV study, with 7 years of followup with both spouses, Kero et al (2014b) found that changing partners (p = 0.028; odds ratio (OR) = 15; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.355-166.054) and marital status (p = 0.001; 95 % CI, 0.000-0.002) increased the risk of incident genital HPV infections (Kero et al 2014b). Genital HPV disease in men was linked to the frequency of sexual intercourse (p = 0.023; 95 % CI, 0.019-0.026) and changes in marital status (p = 0.022; 95 % CI, 0.019-0.026), while oral HPV infections were associated with the number of sexual partners (p = 0.047; 95 % CI, 0.041-0.052) (Kero et al 2014b). Only one man expressed the same HPV genotype (HPV53, a probable high-risk type) in genital samples at baseline and 7 year followup (Kero et al 2014b).…”

“…According to Giuliano et al (2015), HPV infection patterns and the immune response to infection differ by anatomic site, and transmission, infection, and clearance rates vary by gender (Giuliano et al 2015). In the Finnish Family HPV study, with 7 years of followup with both spouses, Kero et al (2014b) found that changing partners (p = 0.028; odds ratio (OR) = 15; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.355-166.054) and marital status (p = 0.001; 95 % CI, 0.000-0.002) increased the risk of incident genital HPV infections (Kero et al 2014b). Genital HPV disease in men was linked to the frequency of sexual intercourse (p = 0.023; 95 % CI, 0.019-0.026) and changes in marital status (p = 0.022; 95 % CI, 0.019-0.026), while oral HPV infections were associated with the number of sexual partners (p = 0.047; 95 % CI, 0.041-0.052) (Kero et al 2014b).…”

Changing Places and Partners: Associations of Neighborhood Conditions With Sexual Network Turnover Among African American Adults Relocated From Public Housing

“…12 These sexual network dynamics have the potential to increase HIV/STI transmission by increasing the probability of encountering a sexual partner who is susceptible to HIV/STI infection. 9,13 These network dynamics themselves may be influenced by neighborhood characteristics, a possibility that has rarely been explored in the literature.…”