Non-sexual transmission modes of human papillomavirus in women: A systematic review
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: March 11, 2014
Fatemeh Jalali Chimeh1, Azam Amirian1, Zahra Aghahosseinshirazi1
1Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Objectives:
Human papillomavirus (HPV) represents a substantial global health concern. While the evidence supports the notion of sexual transmission as the predominant cause of the condition, studies have also suggested the possibility of non-sexual transmission. The present study sought to investigate non-sexual modes of HPV transmission.
Study Design:
Systematic review of observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional).
Methods:
This systematic review searched Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed for studies published between January 2016 and March 2025, using MeSH-based keywords related to non-sexual transmission of HPV. The selection of articles was based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of the articles was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist was applied for reporting.
Results:
Following a thorough screening and quality assessment of 1150 initial articles, 11 studies were included in the final analysis. The findings indicated the presence of non-sexual transmission pathways. Of the reviewed studies, four addressed unknown non-sexual transmission, three focused on self-inoculation or heteroinoculation, and five showed the presence of HPV on medical equipment and fomites that suggests the probable source of transmission.
Conclusions:
The findings highlight that HPV transmission is not limited to sexual contact. non-sexual pathways also play a significant role in virus propagation. The development of preventive health protocols and adherence to proper hygiene practices, with consideration for various transmission pathways, are of paramount importance.
Related Concept Videos
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
Disorders of the Female Reproductive System
Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers
Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...
