OBJECTIVES:To assess the prevalence of lower genital tract symptoms and the association between reported symptoms and past and present signs of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in young women.DESIGN:All women belonging to the 19-, 21-, 23- and 25-year age cohorts and living in the catchment area of the community health centre, were invited by mail to take part in a population-based study. The participants answered a structured questionnaire and a gynaecologic examination was performed. Samples for wet smear, cervical Pap smear, HPV DNA determination and Chlamydia trachomatis culture were taken at the gynaecologic examination. The presence of genital warts was noted. A blood sample was analysed for antibodies against C trachomatis and HSV-2.SETTING:The community health care centre was located in Umeå, a city in Northern Sweden.RESULTS:Of the 886 women who were eligible, 611 (70%) participated in the investigation. One out of four women reported symptoms from the lower genital tract. The most commonly reported symptoms were itching, followed by discharge, and soreness. The most commonly reported STD was C trachomatis (15%). The most prevalent present STD was HPV infection (20%) whereas C trachomatis infection could be isolated from 2.7% of the women. Antibodies against C trachomatis and HSV-2 were present among 22% and 6% of the women, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the women's complaint of vaginal discharge and previous C trachomatis infection, lack of lactobacilli and presence of leucocytosis in wet smear.CONCLUSIONS:We have in a population-based study of young healthy women found that one out of four women had some kind of lower genital tract complaint. Itching was the most commonly reported symptom and was associated with pseudohyphae and acetowhite patches. Reported vaginal discharge and soreness were associated with the history of a past C trachomatis infection and signs of a disturbed vaginal flora.

Background: Genital chlamydia infections often are asymptomatic, which promotes their spread in the population. In women, the possible consequences of infection are pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. Most studies on the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis have been based on clinical series, and prevalences tend to vary with the clinical setting. Few seroepidemiologic studies have emerged from industrialized countries.Goal of this Study: To assess the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis using culture and serology, and its relationship with possible risk factors.Study Design: This was a population-based study involving completion of a self-administered questionnaire, analysis of cervical samples for Chlamydia trachomatis, and serologic tests for Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies.Results: The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection was 2.7%, and the seroprevalence was 24.7% among the sexually active women. Seropositivity was correlated with sexual behavior variables, and the incidence of serologic cross-reactivity with respiratory infections (strain TWAR) was low Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the number of sexual partners, age at first coitus, history of therapeutic abortion, and previous pelvic inflammatory disease to be independently correlated with seropositivity.Conclusion: Early sexual experience and multiple lifetime sexual partners are independent risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Background and Objectives. Previous studies of relationships between genital human papillomavirus infection and tentative risk factors have yielded conflicting results, possibly because of inaccuracy of the viral detection methods used and differences in selection criteria. Goal of This Study. To determine human papillomavirus prevalence and identify risk factors in a group of young Swedish women. Study Design. This was a population-based study involving comu-pletion of a structured questionnaire, analysis of cervical scrapings for human papillomavirus and Chlamydia trachomatis, and sero-logic tests for C. trachomatis and herpes simplex virus antibodies. Results. The prevalence of human papillomavirus infection was 22% among the sexually active women and 4% among the virgins. A number of factors were associated with human papillomavirus prevalence in univariate analysis, but logistic regression analysis showed that lifetime number of male sexual partners was the only independent risk factor for human papillomavirus infection (adjusted odds ratio, 7.45; 95 % CI, 2.79–19.92 for six or more partners vs. one partner). Conclusion. Human papillomavirus infection is a prevalent sexually transmitted disease among young Swedish women, and the lifetime number of male sexual partners is a major risk factor.

The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in cervical cell scrapes from young women was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by using general primer pairs localized within the L1 region. With a one-step general PCR, 5.9% (35 of 590) of young women in a population-based study were found to contain HPV DNA. The proportion of HPV-positive women increased with age, from 1.4% (1 of 69) among women aged 19 years to 9.2% (13 of 142) among women aged 25 years. Among the cervical scrapes from women with normal cytology, 5.6% (30 of 539) harbored HPV DNA. A total of 5 of 19 (26.3%) of the women with pathological signs were positive for HPV DNA. By a two-step PCR, using nested general primers, 20.3% (118 of 581) of all women were shown to contain HPV DNA. The proportion of HPV-positive women also increased with age, from 17.4% (12 of 69) among women aged 19 years to 31.9% (43 of 135) among women aged 25 years, when the two-step PCR was used. Some 19.2% (102 of 530) of cervical scrapes from women with normal cytology contained HPV DNA. Among the women with pathological signs, 16 of 19 (84.2%) were positive for HPV DNA. The HPV DNA-positive specimens were demonstrated to contain HPV type 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 40, 45, 55, or 56. The most prevalent HPV types were 6 (2.0%) and 16 (2.7%). More than one type was found in 16 specimens. Sixty HPV-positive samples could not be typed.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) type-specific sequences required for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mediated amplification of HPV DNA sequences are presented. One primer pair within the E1 open reading frame (ORF) was shared by HPV 6, HPV 11, HPV 16, and HPV 31, whereas the other primer pair within the E1 ORF was specific for HPV 16. Eight primer pairs from the E6 and E7 ORFs specifically detected HPV 6, HPV 16, HPV 18, and HPV 33 sequences. This system has been used for detection of HPV DNA in biopsies, cytological smears and sections of formalin-fixed tissues.

Various methods presently available for the diagnosis of genital Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) were compared regarding their sensitivity in women referred for specific diagnosis and treatment because of atypical Pap smears or clinically suspected neoplasia.Colposcopic examination was performed in all cases. In addition to taking a second Pap smear, cell suspensions were made from 105 women and analysed by the Filter In Situ Hybridization (FISH) technique and tested for HPV 6+11 and HPV 16+18+31. The FISH technique was also used for the possible detection of HPV‐DNA in a reference material comprising 119 apparently healthy women with normal Pap smears.Colposcopically directed cervical biopsies in altogether 196 specimens were obtained from 155 women for histopathological examination and also for the detection of HPV‐DNA by the Southern blot hybridization technique. These specimens were tested for the presence of HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 33.Three per cent of the women with and 34% without cytological signs of HPV in Pap smears had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 111 according to histopathology. CIN III was present in 35% of biopsies with and 59% of biopsies without histological signs of HPV in the biopsies.Altogether 46% of the women were HPV‐DNA positive. Of the women analysed by Southern blot, 39% were HPV‐DNA positive. Of the samples analysed by FISH, 27% with atypical cells were HPV‐DNA positive, compared with 11% of the samples from reference women with normal cytology.Of the women positive for HPV 16/18, colposcopy revealed HPV signs and or dysplasia in 95%.The presence of HPV in precancerous epithelium is not easily confirmed, either by cytology, colposcopy, or histopathology.By using Southern blot technique, it can be established that HPV‐DNA (67%) is frequently present in CIN III lesions. The FISH technique appeared to be as sensitive as Southern blot concerning the possibility of detecting HPV‐DNA in benign tissue and neoplasia of mild to moderate degree.

Analyses of the possible presence of human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA were performed on 84 biopsies from 50 women with clinically and histopathologically suspected HPV infection of the vulva. The colposcopic criteria for inclusion in the study were: acetowhite flat lesions with or without fissures and/or diffuse hyperplastic mucosa with a granulated or filamental surface. Directed biopsies for histopathology and DNA hybridization (dot-blot and Southern-blot) were taken. All women had histopathological evidence of HPV infection. Twelve women had cervical and/or vulvar neoplasia. HPV DNA could be demonstrated in the vulvar biopsies from 24 women; 13 women had HPV 16, 3 had HPV 18, HPV 31 and HPV 33, respectively. In addition, 10 biopsies contained HPV DNA of unknown types. Fifty-five percent of granulated and filamental lesions and 43% of flat lesions with or without fissures were positive for HPV DNA. 34 women had one or more of the following symptoms: itching, burning, dyspareunia, discharge, fissures, dryness and dysuria. Papillomavirus vulvitis is a sexually transmitted disease which may cause recalcitrant symptoms and/or concomitant neoplasia. It is thus important to recognize the different symptoms and signs of this disease.

Abstract. The purpose of this paper is to describe the clinical characteristics of HPV‐vulvo‐vaginitis. Clinical symptoms were recorded in 74 women with the diagnosis of papilloma‐virus vulvovaginitis. The diagnosis was established by colposcopic examination, immunological detection of viral structural antigen, and selected biopsies. Patient data were obtained from medical records and by interviews. Discharge, itching, burning, fissures and dyspareunia were typical symptoms. Discharge was more frequent in women with vaginal localization of the HPV infection, whereas itching and burning were the predominant complaint when the HPV lesions were present on the vulva. However, 14 women were asymptomatic. Thirty‐nine women had atypical Pap smears. In half of these women, there was no evidence of intra‐epithelial neoplasia. In 15 women with atypical Pap smears there was no clinical affection of the cervix uteri. But manifestations of wart virus infection in the vagina and/or vulva. Papillomavirus vulvovaginitis may be a subclinical infection, but many women suffer from distinct symptoms related to the location of the specific lesions. This infection of the vulva and vagina may be the sole cause of atypical Pap smears. The clinical recognition of this condition is a necessary prerequisite for a rational therapeutic approach.