| خلاصه مقاله | Abstract:
A significant amount of evidence supports the connection between HPV and cervical cancer. In this research the link between the removal method of pubic and external genitalia and HPV infection has been studied.
Material and Methods:
A study conducted on sexually active women admitted to gynecology clinic of Tabriz University of Medical Science, for specific gynecologic problems or routine cervical cancer screening program. Participants in the study were asked to response questions that were designed to obtain information about demographic characteristics, pubic and perineal hair removing methods, age at first intercourse, frequency of intercourse, number of sexually active years, and number of lifetime sexual partners. After matching and exclusion the final sample consisted of 250 females with HPV infection and 500 without.
The individuals were grouped into two categories: HPV-positive and HPV-negative/normal cytology. Both groups were adjusted for factors such as current age, age at first intercourse, number of lifetime sexual partners, number of sexually active years, and frequency of intercourse. The prevalence of various methods for external genital hair removal then assessed for each group. An unpaired Student's t-test was employed to compare the data between the two groups. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was utilized to assess the normality of the residuals.
Findings:
In the HPV-infected group, 52.2% used shaving, 17.2% employed waxing, 14.22% utilized electric epilators, 23.6% preferred hair removal creams, 59.2% opted for laser hair removal, and 70% combined shaving with other methods for perineal hair removal. Shaving demonstrated a notable positive association with HPV (OR = 1.625, 95% CI: 1.199-2.209, p=0.0023), while laser hair removal showed an even more pronounced connection (OR = 4.353, 95% CI: 3.157-5.989, p<0.0001).
Conclusion:
The higher prevalence of shaving and laser usage among HPV-positive individuals, compared to HPV-negative participants, suggests a potential mechanism for virus transmission through these methods during perineal or pubic hair removal. |