Counseling reduces HPV persistence in coinfected couples

Area of Science:

• Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Virology
• Public Health

Background:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection with variable concordance and clearance times observed in heterosexual couples.
• Understanding HPV infection dynamics within couples is crucial for effective management and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate HPV infection prevalence, genotype concordance, and viral course in heterosexual couples.
• To compare outcomes between counseled and non-counseled infected heterosexual couples.
• To identify prevalent sites of HPV infection, including oropharyngeal sites, in relation to sexual practices.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, controlled study involving 74 HPV-infected heterosexual couples.
• HPV detection and genotyping using polymerase chain reaction and INNO-LiPA assay over 24 months.
• Sample collection from multiple sites in males (coronal sulcus, urethra, semen, oropharynx) and females (cervix, oropharynx), with HPV fluorescence in situ hybridization on semen.

Main Results:

• The study included 49 couples, with a 69.4% HPV-type concordance.
• Oropharyngeal HPV infection was prevalent (22.7%), particularly in females, among couples reporting oral sex.
• The counseled group showed faster reduction in infected sites and higher clearance rates, with no infected couples remaining at 24 months.

Conclusions:

• HPV infects multiple sites in both genders, with significant oropharyngeal prevalence in couples engaging in oral sex.
• Targeted counseling effectively reduces HPV-infected sites and accelerates viral clearance in heterosexual couples.
• Counseling interventions are vital for managing HPV infection dynamics within couples.