Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy and the Risk of HPV Infection
September 1, 1997 less than 1 minute read
Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy and the Risk of HPV Infection
Abstract & Commentary
Synopsis: Postmenopausal hormone therapy does not increase the risk of cervical HPV infection.
Source: Ferenczy A, et al. Obstet Gynecol 1997; 90:7-11.
Ferenczy, gelfand, and colleagues from McGill University compared the detection rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in 180 postmenopausal hormone users with 126 postmenopausal nonusers. There was a very low prevalence of HPV DNA in both users and nonusers. Thus, Ferenczy et al conclude that the use of postmenopausal hormone therapy is not associated with higher rates of HPV infection of the cervix.
COMMENT BY LEON SPEROFF, MD
The prevalence of HPV infection in users of postmenopausal hormone therapy is an important issue, because if PAP smear changes are believed to be a consequence of hormone use, this may be a reason for discontinuing postmenopausal hormone treatment. This prospective study provides reassuring data that HPV infection is not increased in hormone users, and there is no reason to discontinue hormone use when PAP smear changes are discovered. The prevalence of HPVinfection in postmenopausal women in this study is consistent with previous reports in the literature. It supports the idea that HPV infection is a transient phenomenon.
Thus, HPV infection is largely a problem of younger women, and most importantly, the use of postmenopausal hormones does not increase the rate of either latent or subclinical HPVinfection of the cervix.
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content