Human papillomavirus effect on the development of endometrial polyps

Although the association of human papillomavirus (HPV) with warts arising in different parts of the human body has been well-demonstrated, the association of HPV with endometrial polyps has never been studied in the literature up to now.

Detection of the HPV DNA was carried out by using 13 high-risk HPV real-time PCR Kit and five low-risk HPV real-time PCR Kit.

Among 50 endometrial polyp samples, one endometrial polyp sample revealed a positive result for the presence of HPV type 18.

This first study in the medical literature investigating the possible effect of HPV on the development of endometrial polyps has demonstrated that HPV might have a role in the development of some of the endometrial polyps. If the present authors' hypothesis that endometrial polyps caused by carcinogenic HPV types are prone to proceed to endometrial cancer if left untreated is correct, HPV vaccine has a potential to prevent development of at least some of the endometrial polyps and endometrial cancers.