The Influence of Sexual Behavior and Demographic Characteristics in the Expression of HPV-Related Biomarkers in a Colposcopy Population of Reproductive Age Greek Women

Abstract

Despite the significant scientific evolution in primary and secondary cervical cancer prevention in the battle started by George Papanicolaou in the previous century, global cervical cancer mortality rates remain disappointing. The widespread implementation of HPV-related molecular markers has paved the way to tremendous developments in cervical cancer screening, with the transition from cytological approach to the more accurate and cost-effective HPV testing modalities. However, the academic audience and different health systems have not yet adopted a universal approach in screening strategies, and even artificial intelligence modalities have been utilized from the multidisciplinary scientific armamentarium. Combination algorithms, scoring systems as well as artificial intelligent models have been so far proposed for cervical screening and management. The impact of sexual lifestyle inherently possesses a key role in the prevalence of HPV-related biomarkers. This study aimed to investigate any possible influence of sexual behavior and demographic characteristics in the expression of HPV-related biomarkers in a colposcopy population from October 2016 to June 2017, and corroborated the determining role of age at fist intercourse; the older the age, the lower the probability for DNA positivity. Multivariate analysis illustrated additionally that a number of sexual partners exceeding 4.2 was crucial, with women with ≤5 partners being approximately four times less likely to harbor a positive HPV DNA test (p < 0.0001). Similarly, a reported partner change during the last year before HPV DNA assessment contributed to 2.5 times higher odds for DNA positivity (p = 0.0006). From this perspective, the further development and validation of scoring systems quantifying lifestyle factors that could reflect cervical precancer risk seems paramount.

Effect of Condom Use after CIN Treatment on Cervical HPV Biomarkers Positivity: Prolonged Follow Up Study

“…This evidence-based advice for the postoperative period is currently adopted by most departments worldwide. From this perspective, consistent condom use will serve both purposes (family planning as well as protection against HPV) [ 25 , 35 , 38 ].…”

“…HPV vaccination rates were low at the time the study started to recruit; there was also no evidence of the potential role of vaccination following conization in preventing recurrence [ 25 , 60 ]. Of note is that our group has previously illustrated a beneficial contribution of HPV vaccination affecting untreated patients with mild dysplasias under colposcopic surveillance [ 25 , 35 ].…”

“…Oddly, the role of condom use in the prevention of HPV infections and cervical intraepithelial disease has not been exhaustively investigated so far [ 34 , 35 ]. Data suggests that consistent condom use might reduce HPV infection rates and, as a result, intra-epithelial disease development in HPV-naïve women [ 36 ].…”

What Factors Are Associated with Attitudes towards HPV Vaccination among Kazakhstani Women? Exploratory Analysis of Cross-Sectional Survey Data

“…This knowledge, together with the knowledge of HPV as the most common STI, could improve the HPV infection spread [ 55 ]. However, very few studies have reported the association between knowledge of STI and sexual behavior and HPV status [ 56 , 57 ]. Thus, more research on HPV infection and HPV vaccine knowledge, behavior, and attitudes is required.…”

Maternal HPV Infection: Effects on Pregnancy Outcome

“…Mucosal HPVs are typically contracted through coital or non-coital sexual contact, with non-sexual transmission still disputed [29]. The most recent data suggest that almost all sexually active individuals have been or will be infected with at least one type of genital HPV [30,31]. The International Agency on Research on Cancer (IARC) has categorized HPVs into HR and LR, with HR types being capable of promoting precancerous and cancerous lesions in affected individuals [32].…”