HPV infection in male partners of women with squamous intraepithelial neoplasia and/or high-risk HPV.

In order to estimate the prevalence of HPV infection in male partners of women with squamous intraepithelial lesions and/or high risk HPV, we examined 25 men. In situ hybridisation or polymerase chain reaction was used to detect HPV DNA in biopsied tissue or cell samples from the genital epithelium. Twenty (80%) of the male consorts had clinical features suggestive of HPV infection. Of these, 18 (90%) had detectable HPV DNA, 11 (65%) of the high risk type. In 9 cases HPV DNA was detected by in situ hybridisation and in 9 by polymerase chain reaction. Concordance between female and male HPV type was found in 8 cases (32%), but regarding high-risk HPV carriage as such, 10 (40%) couples corresponded. A search for HPV infection in male partners of women known to be infected with high-risk HPV seems worthwhile.