Influence of ovarian stimulation on the detection of human papillomavirus DNA in cervical scrapes obtained from patients undergoing assisted reproductive techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether gonadotropin stimulation influences the detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in cervical scrapes.


METHODS
Prospective, controlled study.


METHODS
Tertiary care infertility clinic.


METHODS
Two hundred ninety-four patients enrolled in an IVF or IUI program. Two thousand two hundred sixty-two women from an ongoing screening study who were of similar age served as a control group.


METHODS
Cervical scrapes were obtained with a cytobrush before and after ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins.


METHODS
Human papillomavirus status was assessed with a general primer (GP) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the GP5+/GP6+ system. In GP-PCR-positive samples, high-risk HPV types were identified with a cocktail of digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotides. Viral load was evaluated by semiquantitative analysis of the PCR products.


RESULTS
The prevalence of high-risk HPVs was 7.8% before stimulation and 6.8% after stimulation and, thus, was similar to the prevalence in controls (8.4%). Twenty-nine patients were positive for high-risk HPVs: 14 were positive before and after stimulation, 6 were negative before and positive after stimulation, and 9 were positive before and negative after stimulation. Positivity for high-risk HPVs and viral load did not correlate directly with serum estrogen levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Ovarian stimulation has no significant effect on the prevalence of HPV DNA in cervical scrapes obtained from patients undergoing assisted reproductive techniques.
Strehler
E
E
Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Ulm, Germany.
Sterzik
K
K
Malthaner
D
D
Hoyer
H
H
Nindl
I
I
Schneider
A
A
D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral