Mass screening for human papillomavirus type 16 infection in infertile couples

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 infection among in vitro fertilization (IVF) couples and to identify cl inical conditions related to HPV infection. STUDY DESIGN: The presence of HPV type 16 DNA in the uterine cervix of 192 women who underwent IVF and in 99 semen samples collected from their husban ds were determined by the nested polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: Ten women (5.5%) and 4 men (4.0%) were found to be HPV type 16 DNA positive. However, presence of the HPV type 16 DNA in the cervix or semen did not have any impact on IVF treatment variables, including presence of t ubal factor, incidence of pregnancies and abortions, and semen quality. Onl y one of four women, whose partner's semen was HPV type 16 DNA positive, ha d a DNA positive cervix CONCLUSION: These data provide useful information for counseling infertile couples with HPV type 16 infection.