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Comparison of age-specific patterns of sexual behaviour and anal HPV prevalence in homosexual men with patterns in women
  1. Isobel Mary Poynten1,
  2. Dorothy Machalek1,2,
  3. David Templeton1,3,
  4. Fengyi Jin1,
  5. Richard Hillman4,
  6. Iryna Zablotzska1,
  7. Garrett Prestage1,
  8. Martin Holt5,
  9. Andrew Grulich1
  1. 1Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  2. 2The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. 3Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sexual Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  4. 4Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  5. 5Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Mary Poynten, Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; mpoynten{at}kirby.unsw.edu.au

Abstract

Objectives Anal human papillomavirus (HPV) is highly prevalent in men who have sex with men (MSM) of all ages, whereas cervical HPV declines with age. We explore the hypothesis that different sexual behavioural patterns are the basis of this difference in age distribution.

Methods Published data on age-specific HPV prevalence for women (cervical HPV) were extracted from a large meta-analysis and for MSM (anal HPV) from the EXPLORE study of HIV-negative MSM. Age-specific data on recent sexual activity were extracted from two behavioural surveys: the second Australian Study of Health and Relationships survey and the 2013 Gay Community Periodic Survey.

Results At least 50% of MSM at all ages reported more than one sexual partner in the past 6 months. In comparison, 33% of women aged 16–19 years reported more than one partner over the past year. This decreased to 19% and 6% in women aged 20–29 and 30–39 years, respectively, and to fewer than 5% of women in older age groups. Prevalent anal HPV was detected in over 50% of MSM in each age group. Prevalence did not decline with age. In contrast, there was a steady decrease in cervical HPV prevalence with age. Cervical HPV prevalence fell from 23% among North American women aged <25 years to 3% in women aged ≥65 years.

Conclusions In contrast to the decreasing prevalence with age among heterosexual women, the high prevalence and lack of decline in prevalent anal HPV among older MSM are likely to be related to continuing high rates of newly acquired HPV infection from ongoing sexual exposure through new partners.

  • ANOGENITAL CANCER
  • HPV
  • BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE
  • GAY MEN

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