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The ma le factor in the etiology of cervical cancer among sexually monogamous women
Author(s) -
Brinton Louise A.,
Reeves William C.,
Brenes Maria M.,
Herrero Rolando,
Gaitan Eduardo,
Tenorio Francisco,
de Britton Rosa C.,
Garcia Mariana,
Rawls William E.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910440202
Subject(s) - etiology , medicine , cervical cancer , risk factor , gynecology , sex organ , sexually transmitted disease , hpv infection , demography , cancer , biology , immunology , syphilis , genetics , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , sociology
To address the hypothesis that male sexual behavior may affect the etiology of invasive cervical cancer, a case‐control study was undertaken in Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia and Mexico. The study enrolled husbands of those women with invasive cervical cancer and of those age‐matched controls who reported only one lifetime sexual partner. A total of 204 case and 485 control husbands (78% and 72%, respectively, of identified husbands) were interviewed, clinically examined, and had penile swabs taken for papillomavirus assays. Risk increased significantly (p = 0.005) with the number of sexual partners reported by the husband (RR = 2.0 for 26+ vs . <6 partners). Low educational status of the husband was also an important predictor of risk, possibly indicating the role of unmeasured aspects of sexual behavior. Visits to prostitutes, circumcision status and sexually transmitted disease histories were not important predictors of risk, but evidence from clinical examination indicated that poor genital hygiene may be involved. Human papillomavirus (HPV) expression as defined by filter in situ hybridization was detected in 20‐23% of subjects and, except in the small group with both HPV types 6/11 and 16/18, was not related to risk. This may reflect sampling problems in the male or the importance of host factors which enhance viral carcinogenicity in the female.