The detection of HPV DNA, the size of tampon specimens and the menstrual cycle.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if HPV detection or the size of a tampon specimen is affected by the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Two hundred and eighty women between 18-35 years of age attending a gynaecology clinic at The Royal Women's Hospital were enrolled. Each woman completed a questionnaire on the risk factors of HPV infection and provided a tampon specimen. Specimens were analysed for the presence of HPV DNA (polymerase chain reaction with the L1 consensus primers) after the pellet volume and number of cells was assessed.


RESULTS
The mean age of the 298 women enrolled in this study was 27.0 years (SD 4.5, range 18-35). Ninety two (30.9%) of the tampon specimens were positive for HPV using the L1 consensus primer. The detection of HPV DNA was not associated with the quartiles of the menstrual cycle (p = 0.32). Both the pellet volume and the number of cells from a tampon specimen were greater during the mid cycle, although this was significant for the pellet volume only (p = 0.002 and 0.1 respectively). The pellet volume was not significantly associated with other variables assessed by the questionnaire. The number of cells from a tampon specimen increased with the numbers of life time sexual partners (p = 0.02) and was higher for a single marital status (p = 0.0008).


CONCLUSIONS
The timing of the menstrual cycle effects the size of tampon specimens but not the probability of detecting HPV DNA.
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
C K
CK
Fairley
P M
PM
Robinson
S
S
Chen
S N
SN
Tabrizi
S M
SM
Garland
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D052576:Menstrual Hygiene Products; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral