Prevalence and Genotype Distribution of Human Papillomavirus Among Women Attending a Referral Papilloma Clinic in Tehran, Iran: Association with Risk Factors

Ataei‐Pirkooh, Angila; Saed, Shaghayegh; Karbalaei Nia, Mohammad Hadi; Mohebbi, Alireza; Jazayeri, Seyed Mohammad; Yazdani, Shaghayegh; Rezaei, Iman; Norouzi, Masoumeh; Motamed Aria, Parastoo; Hosseini Tehrani, Mehrnaz; Aramideh Khouy, Reza; Mousavizadeh, Leila; Kachooei, Atefeh

doi:10.66224/ari.2026.372288.4059

Prevalence and Genotype Distribution of Human Papillomavirus Among Women Attending a Referral Papilloma Clinic in Tehran, Iran: Association with Risk Factors

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

² Research Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Microbiology-TeMS. C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

10.66224/ari.2026.372288.4059

Abstract

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a significant public health concern because of its association with various anogenital diseases, including genital warts and cancers of the cervix. The prevalence of and risk factors for HPV infection vary across populations and are influenced by demographic, behavioral, and health factors. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of HPV genotypes and assess the influence of demographics, sexual behavior, and health factors on HPV infection among women in Tehran, Iran.
Methods: A total of 311 women were enrolled, and 304 were included in the final analysis. HPV DNA was detected and genotyped using multiplex Real-Time PCR, while sociodemographic and behavioral data were collected via structured questionnaires. Statistical analyses were performed with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: Overall, 57.8% of the patients were HPV positive. The most frequent genotypes were HPV-6 (21.3%), HPV-16 (19.9%), HPV-31 (13.1%), and HPV-68 (9.7%). HPV infection was not significantly associated with marital status, age at first intercourse, or number of partners. HPV-33 and HPV-58 were significantly linked to the 25–40 age group. The use of laser and hair removal treatments showed a significant association with HPV-53. Clinically, genital warts affected more than half of the participants, and colposcopy revealed inflammatory and precancerous lesions, predominantly CIN-1.
Conclusion: This study reveals high HPV burden in Tehran referral clinics, driven by specific genotypes and behavioral factors. It advocates integrated public health strategies—early vaccination, safe sexual practices, targeted interventions, and awareness campaigns—to curb transmission and long-term sequelae in Iran and similar settings.

Keywords