[Papillomavirus infection of the uterine cervix in women using contraception]

The authors analyze the prevalence of the anogenital form of HPV infection as one of the most frequent STD, in the female population using different types of contraception.

Using the method of DNA hybridization, the authors examined for HPV infection of the uterine cervix 245 users of contraception, incl. 127 women using hormonal contraception and 118 women with IUD. 112 women of this group were examined before they started to use contraception and one year after started to use it. The control group was formed by 143 using no contraception.

The authors found a significantly higher incidence of HPV infection of the uterine cervix in the group of women using contraception (24.1%) than in the control group (15.4%). On analysis of the group of women using contraception, as compared with the control group, they found a significantly higher incidence of HPV in women with hormonal contraception (26.0%) while the higher prevalence of HPV (by 6.6%) in women with IUD as compared with the control group was not significant. However the differences in the incidence of HPV (4%) between the two groups of women taking hormonal preparations (26.0%) or having a IUD (22%) were not significant. On examination of women before the onset of contraception and after one year of its use the authors found that candidates of contraception had as compared with the control group an insignificantly (by 3.3%) higher prevalence of HPV already before the beginning of contraception. After one year of contraception it increased by another 3.6%.

With regard to the higher incidence of HPV in women using contraception and with regard to the oncogenic effect of HPV the authors emphasize the importance of regular detailed gynaecological examinations of these women focused on early diagnosis of precancerous conditions of the uterine cervix.