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P27 Genital and Oral Human Papillomavirus in Adolescent Males

Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Hyatt Exhibit Hall
Bree Weaver, MD, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, and Section of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, Micah Kerr, BS, MS, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, Devon Hensel, PhD, Section of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, Darron Brown, MD, Departments of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN and J. Dennis Fortenberry, MD, MS, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

Background: The epidemiology of HPV infections in adolescent males has not been adequately defined. 

 

Objectives: To describe genital and oral HPV infections in adolescent males.

Methods: Males, age 14-17, were recruited from a study of the penile and urethral microbiome, STIs, and sexual behaviors.  Genital swabs and oral rinse samples were collected approximately every 3 months for HPV testing.  Daily cell phone diary entries and quarterly ACASIs were used to determine participants’ sexual behaviors.  Participants reported no HPV vaccination.

Results: Mean age of participants at enrollment was 16.1 years (range 14.2-18.0; SD 1.2).  Participants have completed 3 quarterly study visits. HPV was detected in genital samples from 16 of 33 participants (48.5%) at one or more visits. Both high risk (HR) and low risk (LR) types were detected in genital and oral samples.  The most frequently detected HR and LR types in genital samples were HPV 51 and HPV 84, respectively.  Five of 33 participants (15.2%) had HPV in one or more oral sample.  Sexual behaviors associated with genital HPV detections at visit 2 included: smoking (p = .038), marijuana use (p = .038), and masturbation (p = .053).  There were no significant associations between oral HPV detection and behaviors.

Conclusions: This study provides preliminary information about HPV in adolescent males.  HR and LR HPV are detected in both genital and oral samples. Multiple HPV types are detected, both at single time points and over time within participants.  As in similar studies in young women, patterns of HPV detection are seen, including new infections, cleared infections, and persistent infections.  Possible risk factors for HPV detection in adolescent males include: tobacco smoking, marijuana use, and masturbation.

Implications for Programs, Policy, and Research: These findings contribute new knowledge about the epidemiology of HPV in adolescent males and suggest that vaccination for the prevention of HPV related diseases should occur early in adolescence.

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