Evaluation of the psycho-sexual effects of HPV positivity and associated lower anogenital tract lesions on women

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the psycho-sexual effects of HPV positivity and/or associated lower anogenital tract lesions on women's lives. MATERIAL and METHODS: This project is designed as a cross-sectional survey study. Patients with HPV positivity, HPV-associated lower anogenital tract lesions and abnormal VS results were selected among the patients who applied to the Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology Polyclinic of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty Hospital between July 2023 and September 2024 and a case group was formed. Patients with HPV negative, HPV-associated lower anogenital tract lesions and abnormal VS results were selected as the control group. Subgroups were formed within the case group. The selected questionnaires were then administered to the patients and scoring was performed. Data were systematically recorded and IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0 was used for statistical analysis. As a result of the analysis of the results, if p<0.05, the evaluation was found to be statistically significant. RESULTS: In our study, while the rates of anxiety and sexual dysfunction were found to be high between the case group and the control group, no significant difference was found in the rate of depression. In subgroup and control group comparisons, the rates of anxiety, depression and sexual dysfunction were found to be high in groups A, C and D. The rate of depression and sexual dysfunction was high in groups B and E. CONCLUSION: Women are psychosexually affected by HPV positivity and lesions caused by HPV. After detection of these lesions, women should also be evaluated psychologically. We may be able to reduce the psycho-sexual impact by providing more information about HPV and related lesions throughout the community. Keywords: anxiety, sexual dysfunction, depression, HPV, condyloma