ABSTRACT
The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in the lower genital tracts
of pregnant and nonpregnant women was studied. Cervical and vaginal exfoliated cells
were obtained during a routine pelvic examination in 45 pregnant women in early labor,
and in 44 nonpregnant women. A detailed questionnaire with emphasis on sexual history
and sexually transmitted diseases was administered. The two groups of women were comparable
with respect to mean age, prior pregnancy experiences, and number of lifetime sexual
partners. Compared with pregnant women, the nonpregnant women had a more frequent
history of sexually transmitted diseases (61% versus 39%; p = 0.06), and of genital
warts (16% versus 0%; p = 0.01). Utilizing Southern transfer and hybridization with
32 P-labeled viral DNA probes for HPV types 6,11,16,18, and 31, DNAs extracted from cervicovaginal
exfoliated cells were assessed for HPV genomic sequences. HPV genomic sequences were
identified in 25% of nonpregnant women compared with 13.5% of term pregnant women.
This difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.26). Six HPV isolates identified
in pregnant women were distributed as follows: type 6/11, 1; type 16, 1, type 31,
1; and unknown type, 3. Eleven isolates were identified in nonpregnant women and were
distributed as follows: type 6/11, 2; type 16, 6; type 18, 2; and type 31, 1. HPV
type 6/11, the type responsible for laryngeal papillomatosis of juvenile onset, was
identified in 2% of the pregnant population and accounted for only one of six isolates.
HPV DNA-positive pregnant and nonpregnant women were predominantly asymptomatic and
had normal Papanicolaou smears and normal clinical examinations.
