PREVALENCE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMA-VIRUS IN MEN ATTENDING THE INFERTILITY CLINIC

Subclinical human papilloma a virus is a potential carcinogen in the m ale and female genital tract. The sexually active male infertility pop ulation represents a high risk group for harbouring this disease. To d etermine the prevalence of subclinical human papillomavirus in this gr oup, penoscopy was done on 96 male patients visiting the infertility c linic. The feasibility of routine penoscopy as part of the infertility work-up was also investigated. Of the 96 patients 20 had acetowhite l esions on their penes with penoscopy. Thirteen patients (13.5%), 12 pr oven by biopsy of the aceto-white lesions, and one proven by fluid in situ hybridization on superficial epithelial cells of the distal ureth ra, were positive for human papillomavirus. Two of the 12 biopsy-posit ive cases were also proven positive by fluid in situ hybridization. It was concluded that human papillomavirus had a high prevalence amongst asymptomatic male patients attending the infertility clinic and that penoscopy should be included as routine investigation in the work-up o f the male infertility patient.