TRANSIENCE OF CERVICAL HPV INFECTION IN SEXUALLY ACTIVE, YOUNG-WOMEN WITH NORMAL CERVICOVAGINAL CYTOLOGY

Human papillomavirus DNA was detected in cervical specimens from 366 sexually active young women with cytomorphologically normal cervices using the polymerase chain reaction. In 93% (25/27) of initially infected women, the same viral type was not detected upon re-examination four menstrual cycles later. These results suggest that the majority of HPV infections in young women are transient.