Investigating the correlation between oncogenic HPV, sexually transmitted disease, and vaginal microbiota in patients with normal Pap smear

Farah  Farzaneh; Khatereh  Hekmatnia; Maryam Sadat  Hosseini; Maliheh  Arab; Maryam  Talayeh; Mahshid  Vasef; Samaneh  Yavari; Hossein  Keyvani

doi:10.18502/ijm.v17i5.19892

Farah Farzaneh Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Preventive Gynecology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Khatereh Hekmatnia Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Preventive Gynecology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maryam Sadat Hosseini Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Preventive Gynecology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maliheh Arab Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Preventive Gynecology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maryam Talayeh Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Preventive Gynecology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahshid Vasef Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Preventive Gynecology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Samaneh Yavari Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hossein Keyvani Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v17i5.19892

Keywords: Human papillomavirus DNA tests; Sexually transmitted diseases, Bacterial; Microbiota; Uterine cervical neoplasms; Cellular microenvironment

Abstract

Background and Objectives: This study investigated the correlation between high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV), sexually transmitted disease (STD), and vaginal microbiota in patients with a normal Pap smear.

Materials and Methods: For women who were referred for their routine cervical cancer screening, in addition to co-testing, some samples were taken from the vaginal and cervical environment to check the presence of the most common STD patho- gens. The diagnosis of the organisms was done by means of PCR and microbial cultures.

Results: HR HPV was detected in 67 women, and STD was positive in 80% of them, while in HR HPV negative women, this was 67%. The HPV positive group reported a significantly higher rate of STD history (92% vs. 82%) and frequency of inter- course weekly (86% vs. 3.96%) (p<0.05). Lactobacilli, streptococcus, and staphylococcus concentrations were significantly lower in the HPV positive group compared to the HPV negative group (p<0.007; OR = 4.17). Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum were significantly (p<0.001) more prevalent in the HPV positive group compared to the HPV negative group.

Conclusion: This study showed that the existence of other STDs and the composition of the vaginal and cervical microbiome play an important role in either the clearance or the progression of high-risk HPV.