[Prevalence of HPV-induced lesions in men: a study from 246 heterosexual couples]

Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) infection is high in heterosexual couples. We have evaluated clinically the frequency and the histological type of genital lesions in men whose partners have an HPV cervical and/or external genital lesion.

We conducted a cross-sectional study; we examined 246 men whose partner was referred for HPV lesions treatment of either the external genital tract or the cervix. All clinical HPV lesions detected in the men then underwent histological examination.

In 72% of cases, the couples were 18 to 35 years old. We detected HPV clinical lesions, confirmed histologically in 43% (106/246) of men. Warts and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia were diagnosed in 83 (78%) and 23 (22%) of cases, respectively. The prevalence of clinical HPV lesions in men ranged from 34% in case of HG CIN to 80% when the female partner suffered from genital warts.

The high frequency of clinical HPV lesions in men whose the partner has warts should lead to a peniscopy of the partner in these cases. Similarly, the peniscopy detects an HPV lesion in a third of men of which the partner gets a HG CIN. It is necessary to realize prospective studies to reevaluate the impact of diagnosing and treating male lesions with regard to the evolution of HG CIN in their partner.