Sex Work and High-Risk Anal Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Transgender Women: The Condesa Study

Purpose: The prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection among transgender women has been reported to be very high and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention strategies have focused on transgender women who engage in sex work. The purpose of our study was to describe hrHPV infection prevalence among a group of transgender women and to explore the differences according to sex work history (SW). Methods: The Condesa Study, an HPV vaccine, and screening study, recruited 207 transgender women without previous HPV vaccination, ages 18-60, from two clinics in Mexico City that provide HIV and transgender health care (May 2018-December 2019). At enrollment, they completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic and sexual behavior data. The hrHPV DNA genotyping was done on self-collected anal samples. Factors associated with hrHPV, stratified by presence or absence of SW, were assessed with multiple logistic regression. Results: A total of 43.5% of participants reported a history of SW. Anal hrHPV prevalence was 62.0% among participants with a history of SW and 52.0% among those without. Overall, 1 in 4 (26.6%) participants were living with HIV. Independent risk factors associated with hrHPV among transgender women with a history of SW were younger age, younger age at first anal intercourse (15-17 years), and greater number of sexual partners in the last 3 months. Among transgender women who had not done SW, greater number of sexual partners in the last 3 months and self-reported STIs were associated with hrHPV. Conclusions: Prevalence of anal infection with hrHPV was high among transgender women. Our results support that other sexual behaviors different from participating in SW contribute to the high prevalence of HPV and that there is an urgent need to include all transgender women in prevention programs for HPV and associated cancers, regardless of SW.

[Anal intraepithelial neoplasia (NIA) and infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) in anoreceptive patients]

BACKGROUND

An association between human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and progression to anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) and epidermoid cancer has been established.

OBJECTIVE

To know the prevalence of low and high grade AIN, as well as HPV infection in an anoreceptive patients group, infected or not, by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All patients with anoreceptive sexual relations were considered in this study. Patients who accepted anal citology and high definition anoscopy and biopsies with a follow-up not minor of 3 months were included.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients were included: 40 male (90.9%) with average age of 31 years. Anal cytology showed inflammatory alterations in 21 patients (28%), low grade intraepithelial lesion in 23 (52%); there were not patients with high grade epithelial lesion. According to the high definition anoscopy, there were low grade intraepithelial lesion in 42 patients (95%) and high grade in 2 (5%). Biopsy showed low grade intraepithelial in 26 patients (59%), high grade in 4 (9%) and inflammatory alterations in 14 (32%). The prevalence of AIN and HPV infection was 68% in both diseases. The HIV infection was associated with the presence of high grade AIN (p=0.002, OR 47.7)

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high prevalence of AIN and HPV infection between patients with anoreceptive sexual relations. The HIV infection is a risk factor for the development of high grade AIN.