HISTORY OF GENITAL WARTS IN 10,838 WOMEN 20 TO 29 YEARS OF AGE FROM THE GENERAL-POPULATION - RISK-FACTORS AND ASSOCIATION WITH PAPANICOLAOUSMEAR HISTORY

Background and Objectives: The most important risk factor for cervical neoplasia is genital infection with certain types of human papillomav irus (HPV). Genital warts (GW) are an easily recognizable condition ca used by HPV. Although only a fraction of HPV infections are clinical, a history of ever having had GW could serve as a marker for exposure t o HPV. Goals: To study the risk factors for ever having had GW. The as sociation of GW with abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smear and relation to cervical neoplasia is also discussed. Study Design: A case-control st udy among 10,838 women aged 20 to 29 years and reporting at least one lifetime sexual partner. The women were participants in a prospective cohort study on the relationship between HPV and cervical neoplasia in Copenhagen, Denmark. Data were obtained by means of personal intervie ws using structured questionnaires. Results: In all, 1,820 women (17%) reported ever having had GW. The most important risk factor was the n umber of lifetime of sexual partners (adjusted odds ratio 5.2; 95% con fidence interval: 3.4-8.0) for at least 40 partners vs. 1 to 2 partner s). The number of regular partners, sexually active years, a history o f chlamydial infection, and smoking were also associated with the risk of ever having had GW. Women who had had GW were 1.9 times more likel y than other women to report an abnormal Pap smear. Conclusions: The s tudy confirms the sexual transmission of the infection. There is also good concordance between risk factors for ever having had GW and cervi cal neoplasia. A close relationship between having had GW and an abnor mal Pap smear was observed.