UroToday – Human papillomavirus is the most commonly sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 11,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer annually and almost 4,000 will die from this disease. This study done by Dr. Bertran Auvert et al. investigated the association between male circumcision and the prevalence of human papillomavirus among young men.

This study utilized data from a trial conducted in Orange Farm, South Africa among men between the ages of 18-24 years. Urethral swabs were collected from participants in the intervention who were circumcised and the controls who were uncircumcised and were coming in for scheduled follow-up visits. Polymerase chain reactions were performed for analysis of human papillomavirus.

The prevalence of human papillomavirus was 14.8% in those that were circumcised and 22.3% in those who were uncircumcised. Controlling for other confounding variables such as ethnic group, age, education, sexual behavior [including condom use], marital status, and HIV showed no effect on the results.

The group concluded that this was the first randomized controlled trial to show a reduction in the prevalence of urethral human papillomavirus infection after circumcision. It correlates with the finding that women with a circumcised partner are at a lower risk of cervical cancer than women with uncircumcised partners.

Since human papillomavirus is a virus, HPV vaccines are being investigated. Currently, Gardasil is currently being administered for helping HPV prevention. Currently, only women are being treated with the HPV vaccine, but since both men and women are carriers of human papillomavirus, the possible benefits and efficacy of vaccinating men are currently being studied.

Auvert B, Sobngwi-Tambekou J, Cutler E, Nieuwoudt M, Lissouba P, Puren A, Taljaard D
J Infect Dis. 2009 Jan 1;199(1):14-9.
doi:10.1086/595566

UroToday Medical Editor Pasquale Casale, MD

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