Comparison of women with cervical human papillomavirus infection and genital warts. I. Some behavioural factors and clinical findings.

OBJECTIVE To determine if behavioural factors, other than sexual, differ between women with cervical human papillomavirus infection (CHPI) and those with genital warts (GW). DESIGN A structured, personal in-depth interview which included details on sexual behaviour, hygiene, gynaecological complaints, and demographical characteristics and a gynaecological examination which included vaginal culture and human papillomavirus (HPV) typing with Southern blot. SUBJECTS Women (n = 972) who had attended two family planning clinics and one youth clinic for contraceptive advice. RESULTS Out of this female population 66 (6.8%) were found to have CHPI, 39 (4.0%) had genital warts (GW), and 30 (3.1%) women reported genital warts within the last two years. The women with CHPI had had significantly less education, were more often immigrants, had a vaginal flora change more frequently and were more often smokers than the women with GW. The women with GW reported lower abdominal pain significantly more often, had a leucocyte dominance in the vaginal secretion more often and favoured bathing in a bathtub more than the women with CHPI. After adjustment for sexual behavioural factors the significant difference between the two groups for bathing in a bathtub and lower abdominal pain remained. CONCLUSION Although both conditions are caused by HPV, there are behavioural differences between women with CHPI and women with CA.