Effect of Menopause on Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection and the Microbiota in a Hispanic Cohort [A320] Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • INTRODUCTION: Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are very commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infections. High-risk HPV types are strongly linked to cervical cancer. The composition of the cervicovaginal microbiota in menopausal and non-menopausal Hispanic people and its relation to HPV infection has not been thoroughly studied. Preliminary data from our group have shown that these changes are also observed in non-menopausal women who are HPV positive and those with high-grade lesion. The association of HPV with the microbiota in menopausal Hispanic women remains unknown. Hence, we hypothesize that menopause creates an environment favorable for HPV infection due to changes associated with the vaginal microbiota. METHODS: Cervical swabs were obtained from 330 women (75 menopausal and 255 non-menopausal women) who visited colposcopy clinics in San Juan, Puerto Rico, after patients' consent, as part of an institutional review board–approved study (#1050114). A questionnaire accompanied collection of samples. Genomic DNA was extracted from swabs for 16S rDNA amplification and HPV genotyping (PR Science Technology and Research Trust #2020-00112). RESULTS: Analysis revealed that non-menopausal women have higher HPV infection rates than menopausal women (77.25% vs. 60%, respectively), with similar rates of high-risk HPV (43.13% vs 40%, respectively). Menopausal women have higher alpha diversity and lower abundances of Lactobacillus. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data show that even though menopausal women have higher diversity, this does not seem to affect HPV infection rates. Nonetheless, it is important to further develop study models to better relate microbial communities and specific HPV infection types to prevent cervical disease.

authors

  • Godoy Vitorino, Filipa
  • Reguero-Cadilla, Laura
  • Dominicci-Maura, Anelisse
  • Godoy-Vitorino, Filipa
  • Romaguera, Josefina

publication date

  • 2022

start page

  • 92S

end page

  • 92S

volume

  • 139

issue

  • 1