Genital human papillomavirus infection in women who have sex with women

Genital infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), as determined by polymer ase chain reaction detection of HPV DNA and prevalence of HPV-6 and -16 ser um antibodies, was investigated in 149 women who were sexually active with women. By use of HPV L1 consensus primers and hybridization to types 6/11, 16, 18, 31/33/35/39, and 45 and a generic probe, HPV DNA was detected in 30 % of subjects; of these, 20% had type 31/33/35/39, 18% had type 16, and 2% had type 6/11, Of 21 subjects reporting no prior sex with men, BPV DNA was detected in 19% and squamous intraepithelial lesions in 14%, By capture ELI SA with HPV-6 and -16 L1 capsids, 47% of subjects were seropositive for HPV -16 and 62% for HPV-6, Current smoking was associated with detectable HPV D NA, Genital HPV infection and squamous intraepithelial lesions are common a mong women who are sexually active with women and occur among those who hav e not had sex with men.