Condom use in prevention of Human Papillomavirus infections and cervical neoplasia: systematic review of longitudinal studies.
OBJECTIVE
Based on cross-sectional studies, the data on protection from Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections related to using male condoms appear inconsistent. Longitudinal studies are more informative for this purpose. We undertook a systematic review of longitudinal studies on the effectiveness of male condoms in preventing HPV infection and cervical neoplasia.


METHODS
We searched PubMed using MeSH terms for articles published until May 2013. Articles were included if they studied a change in non-immunocompromized women's cervical HPV infection or cervical lesion status along with the frequency of condom use.


RESULTS
In total, 384 abstracts were retrieved. Eight studies reported in 10 articles met the inclusion criteria for the final review. Four studies showed a statistically significantly protective effect of consistent condom use on HPV infection and on regression of cervical neoplasia. In the remaining four studies, a protective effect was also observed for these outcomes, although it was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Consistent condom use appears to offer a relatively good protection from HPV infections and associated cervical neoplasia. Advice to use condoms might be used as an additional instrument to prevent unnecessary colposcopies and neoplasia treatments in cervical screening, and to reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, DK-1014 Copenhagen.
Janni Uyen Hoa
JU
Lam
Matejka
M
Rebolj
Pierre-Antoine
PA
Dugué
Jesper
J
Bonde
My
M
von Euler-Chelpin
Elsebeth
E
Lynge
D003127:Colposcopy / Q000379:methods; D017280:Condoms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology
Human Papillomavirus; cervical cancer; cervical neoplasia; condom; infection; prevention