title: The epidemiology and natural history of anal human papillomavirus infection in men who have sex with men.
abstract: Studies on the epidemiology and natural history of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection are essential to understand the significance of this virus in the aetiology of anal cancer in men who have sex with men (MSM). This paper presents a review of studies on anal HPV in MSM. For this review, a Medline search was performed to identify English-language articles published in peer-reviewed journals on the epidemiology, natural history and risk factors for anal HPV infection in MSM. Anal HPV prevalence is high in MSM and infection with multiple HPV types is common. The available prospective data suggest detection of new anal HPV infections may also be common. However, with limited epidemiological data available on infection dynamics and associated behavioural risk factors, it is difficult to draw conclusions on how persistent anal HPV infection is in this population.
authors: The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors: Dorothy A
authors: DA
authors: Machalek
authors: Andrew E
authors: AE
authors: Grulich
authors: Fengyi
authors: F
authors: Jin
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Templeton
authors: I Mary
authors: IM
authors: Poynten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000821:virology; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*