Concordance and transmission of human papillomavirus within heterosexual couples observed over short intervals

Abstract

Background: Because many human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are transient, rates of transmission may be miscalculated if the interval between testing spans several months. We examined rates of concordance and transmission in heterosexual couples over short intervals.

Methods: Twenty-five adult couples were enrolled and sampled for HPV DNA from the genitals, hand, and mouth 5 times over a 6-week period, including 24 hours after sexual intercourse and after 48 hours of abstinence. Concordance and transmission patterns were described.

Results: Concordance between the couple's genital sites ranged from 64% to 95% for at least 1 HPV type. The highest rates of concordance were observed 24 hours after sexual intercourse. A similar peak in concordance was not seen between genital and nongenital anatomic sites. Transmission rates for female genital to male genital ranged from 26.8 to 187.5 per 100 person-months and for male genital to female genital from 14.5 to 100 per 100 person-months.

Conclusions: High rates of concordance shortly after intercourse suggest that some DNA detections in the genital area are contaminants from a partner and not established HPV infections. Female-to-male transmission appeared more common than male-to-female transmission.

Figure 1.

Positive and negative concordance of human papillomavirus (HPV) between partners at each visit by anatomic site. Because males and female partners differed in the HPV detected at each visit, concordance is shown by gender. Bars to the right represent percent concordance when comparing male samples to that of the female; numbers at the end represent the number of females with HPV (denominator) and the number of males having at least one HPV type shared with the female (numerator). Bars to the left represent percent concordance when comparing female samples to that of the male; numbers at the end of the bar represent the number of males with HPV (denominator) and the number of females having at least one HPV type shared with the male (numerator). Negative concordance reflects percent concordance that both couples were HPV negative from the specific anatomic site. Anal sample for women refers to the intra-anal and for men refers to the perianal samples.

Figure 1.

Positive and negative concordance of human papillomavirus (HPV) between partners at each visit by anatomic site. Because males and female partners differed in the HPV detected at each visit, concordance is shown by gender. Bars to the right represent percent concordance when comparing male samples to that of the female; numbers at the end represent the number of females with HPV (denominator) and the number of males having at least one HPV type shared with the female (numerator). Bars to the left represent percent concordance when comparing female samples to that of the male; numbers at the end of the bar represent the number of males with HPV (denominator) and the number of females having at least one HPV type shared with the male (numerator). Negative concordance reflects percent concordance that both couples were HPV negative from the specific anatomic site. Anal sample for women refers to the intra-anal and for men refers to the perianal samples.