Purpose To examine the longitudinal changes in the epithelial topography of the cervix in healthy young women; and to determine the sociodemographic, behavioral, and biological factors associated with the rate of cervical epithelial maturation. Methods Healthy young women were enrolled (10/00-9/02) as part of a larger study of human papillomavirus (HPV). At interval visits, interviews, infection testing, and colpophotography (3% acetic acid; 10X,16X magnifications) were performed. Areas of total cervical face and cervical immaturity, defined as columnar and early squamous metaplasia, were quantitatively measured using computerized planimetry. Cervical immaturity was expressed as percentage of total cervical face. This analysis includes the first consecutive 145 women with greater than 10% immaturity at baseline. The rate of cervical maturation was defined as change in percent-immaturity. Predictors included sociodemographics, sexual behaviors, and infections. Data analyses included multivariate generalized linear models with repeated measures. Results The baseline mean age was 17.8 years. Colpophotographs were available from 815 total visits, representing 2.7 years mean follow-up per woman and 5.9 month mean intervals. Women began the study with a median of 39% immaturity and ended with 8% immaturity. After adjusting for time and baseline percent-immaturity, an increased rate of cervical maturation was associated with oral contraceptive pill use (parameter estimate −0.023, p=0.04) and smoking (−0.039, p=0.01). Conclusions Cervical maturation was documented during relatively short time periods for the vast majority of these women. Oral contraceptive pills and smoking may accelerate the maturational process, representing increased cell proliferation and thus a possible greater vulnerability to HPV.

The majority of anal HPV infections cleared within 3 years. HPV-16 infections were slower to clear than other HR-HPV infections, consistent with its role in anal cancer. Specific sexual behaviors were associated with persistence, suggesting that education and behavioral interventions may decrease persistence.

Background Anal cancer is more common in women than in men, yet little is known about the natural history of HPV in women. The objective was to examine the natural history of anal HPV in heterosexual women and to examine risk factors associated with persistence. Methods: Young women participating in a HPV cohort study were seen at 4-month intervals for cervical and anal testing for HPV DNA. The distribution of time to clearance was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier approach, and risks for persistence assessed using Cox regression models. Results: Seventy-five women (mean age 23.5 ± 4.1 years) who tested positive for anal HPV were followed for a mean of 84.5 ± 44.9 months. By 3 years, 82.5% of anal non-16 high risk (HR) HPV, 82.6% of low risk (LR) HPV and 76.2% of HPV16 infections had cleared. By 3 years, only 36.4% of women had become negative for all HPV types. In the multivariable model, concurrent cervical HPV 16 (P = 0.009) or any HR HPV (P = 0.046) detection, weekly alcohol use (P = 0.018), anal touching during sex (P = 0.034), and ever having anal sex (P = 0.06) were associated with HPV 16 persistence. Having a new sex partner (P < 0.001) and condom use during vaginal sex (P = 0.06) were associated with clearance. Similar associations were found for clearance all HR HPV infections. Only concomitant cervical HPV infection was associated with non-16 HR HPV persistence. Conclusions: The majority of anal HPV infections cleared within 3 years. HPV 16 infections were slower to clear than other HR HPV, consistent with its role in anal cancer. Sexual behaviour was associated with persistence, suggesting that education and behavioural interventions may decrease persistence and the risk of anal cancer.