Variables Affecting the Development and Progression of Precancerous Lesions in the Cameroon Women Population

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. There are many different types of this virus; some types can cause health problems including genital warts, cervical cells lesions and sometimes cervical cancer. Generally, people can get HPV by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the virus. The objective of this study was to find out what societal factors can encourage HPV infection to progress to carcinogenesis.

Methods: This study covered 1443 women in three Cameroonian regions for cytological studies utilizing the Pap test. Multiplex PCR was used to characterize the presence of the human papilloma virus in positive pap smears. Low risk genotypes were shown to be prevalent in the study's findings (over 15%).

Results: Women under 25 years presented 25% of high-risk genotypes. Genotype HPV 6 and 45 were more prevalent from women with early sexual exposure (before 15 years). HPV 6, HPV 11, and HPV 45, were quite common among women who had at least four sexual partners. When it came to contraceptive techniques, HPV 11 and 62 infections were absolutely absent in women who did not use them. The majority of HPV infection and cervical lesions were seen in women who used an oral contraceptive method plus an intrauterine device. More HPV, especially HPV 61, 45 were identified in smoking women with a frequency of more than 14%. Microbial and fungal infections were also examined according to HPV infections frequency. Candida albicans has been linked to the development of both high and low risk HPV infections. The presence of herpes simplex infection in HPV 6 genotype infection was significant.

Conclusion: There is sufficient evidence that, in addition to papillomavirus infections, additional variables play a role in the transformation of normal epithelial tissue into malignant tissues in cameroonian women. Oral contraceptives, tobacco smoking, parity, number of pregnancies, early sexual sexual exposure, number of sexual partners, and microbial and fungal genital infections such as Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans, Herpes simplex, Gardnella vaginalis, and Aspergillus were all investigated as risk factors.