Anal human papillomavirus infection in heterosexuals with genital warts: prevalence and relation with sexual behaviour.

Abstract

The clinical and subclinical manifestations of anal human papillomavirus infection have been well reported in homosexual men.' Although anal warts have been reported to accompany genital warts in heterosexual men and women,23 the prevalence of subclinical anal human papillomavirus infection in heterosexual people has not been addressed previously. The mode of transmission of human papillomavirus to the anus is poorly understood and, although in some cases it may result from anal coitus,4 this fails to explain anal infection in heterosexual men. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of anal human papillomavirus infection in heterosexual men and women with genital warts and to examine whether anal infection is related to specific sexual behaviours.