An analysis of HPV infection incidence and clearance by genotype and age in men: The HPV Infection in Men (HIM) Study

Abstract

Objectives Genital HPV infection in men causes benign and cancerous lesions, the incidence of which differs by age. The goal of this work was to comprehensively evaluate incidence and clearance of individual HPV genotypes among men by age group. Methods HIV-negative men ages 18–70 with no history of anogenital cancer were recruited for the HPV Infection in Men (HIM) Study. Participants completed clinical exams and questionnaires every six months for up to ~4 years. Genital specimens underwent HPV genotyping, with associations between age and HPV assessed using Cox analyses. Results 4085 men were followed for a median of 48.6 months (range: 0.3–94.0). Significantly lower HPV incidence rates were observed among the oldest age group (55–70 years) for grouped high-risk (incidence rate ratio [IRR]=0.71), HPV16 (IRR=0.54), grouped low-risk (IRR=0.74), and HPV6 (IRR=0.57) infections compared to men ages 18–24. However, incidence of the grouped 9-valent HPV vaccine types remained constant across the lifespan. Likelihood of HPV6 and HPV16 clearance remained constant until age 54, then increased significantly for men ages 55–70 (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]=1.92 and 1.65, respectively). Conclusions Men remain susceptible to HPV infections throughout their lifespan, highlighting the need for prevention efforts with long-lasting duration.

Challenges of Human Papillomavirus Infection and Associated Diseases in Low-Resource Countries

“…25 HPV types 16 and 18 are the most common genotypes detected in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. 28 Penile HPV infection is dependent on high-risk sexual behavior including lifetime number of sexual partners, number of recent sexual partners, age at first intercourse, as well as sexual frequency. [29][30][31][32][33] Even with condom use, transmission of HPV has been documented via unprotected areas of genital skin.…”

Characteristics of HPV-unvaccinated undergraduate health students in Switzerland, a cross sectional study

“…The highest infection rate is found among 16–25-year-old women. While up to 70% of HPV infections are spontaneously cleared after a few months [3], the persistence of the virus is responsible for the development of cervical cancer, which is associated to HPV in nearly 100% of cases [4]. Cervical cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women aged 20–49 years living in Switzerland [5].…”

Acquisition, Persistence, and Clearance of Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Male Virgins Residing in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States

“…In our study, age was inversely associated with clearance of high-risk HPV infection among men who, at study baseline, had not initiated sex. Generally, age is not associated with HPV acquisition and clearance in sexually experienced men [6,16], except that one study reported that the likelihood of HPV type 6 and 16 clearance increased significantly for sexually experienced men aged 55-70 years [17].…”