[HPV infection as a disease of couples. Prevalence of the infection in the male partner].

BACKGROUND: The role of males who are sexual partners of females with genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and premalignant lesions is explored in the present study. METHODS: In a period of 6 years, 845 females with genital premalignant and HPV-associated lesions were examined and treated at the Sexual Transmitted Disease Center of S. Gallicano Hospital. The male partners of were asked to attend this Center, and 163 (70%) of them responded. All participants underwent sexual anamnesis, genital inspection and colposcopic examination. RESULTS: Macroscopic lesions were found in 7.4% of the males enrolled. The colposcopic prevalence of HPV infection among the male partners was 21.8% 3 months later among 28 negative patients to the first colposcopic control, 2 were found positive. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that the colposcopic evaluation of male partners during an HPV infection of the couple is to be considered for the therapeutic assessment and evolution control of the infection in each couple.