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To investigate the prevalence of Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) among village women in Henan and to determine its relevant risk factors.A population based cross-sectional study on cervical cancer was conducted among village women in Xinmi, Henan. Women aged 20 - 54 who had sexual intercourse experiences were enrolled in this study. Self-sampling and direct-sampling were used in collecting women's vaginal discharge. 13 high-risk HPVs were tested with HC2 for all of the specimens. Then women with abnormal results did colposcopy and biopsy. The biopsy results were regarded as the golden standard.There were 881 women enrolled in this paper and 881 self-sampling and 880 direct-sampling specimens were collected. The HPVs prevalence rates for the self-sampling and direct-sampling were 13.05% and 12.27%, respectively. Age-specific prevalence rates were 10.57% (20-), 9.60% (25-), 12.00% (30-), 9.52% (35-), 17.60% (40-), 13.74% (45-) and 12.80% (50 - 54). HPV prevalence rates were increased with progression of cervical disease (chi(2) = 200.69, P = 0.00). And HPV prevalence rates were higher in women with more advanced education background (chi(2) = 11.05, P = 0.01). HPV infection rate in women whose husbands have more than one sexual partner was 18.02% and whose husbands have only one sexual partner was 10.88% (chi(2) = 6.37, P = 0.01).The infection rate of high-risk HPVs in this area is high. The relationship of HPV infection with age has not been observed in this study, but the the sexual activity is the major risk factor for cervical cancer.

All Caucasian women in a large Eastern city who developed pathologically confirmed cervical cancer between 1950 and 1969 are being prospectively followed in an epidemiological test of the venereal hypothesis of cervical carcinogenesis. We are attempting to identify all men who were married to these probands at any time prior to the date of their cancer diagnosis. The ultimate objective is the identification of all the other wives of the proband husbands in order that their risk of cervical cancer be assessed. A random sample of control wives similar to the other wives in age, race, date and place of marriage as well as prior marital status is also being followed. To date, a total of 1,087 other wives and 659 control wives has been fully traced. Cervical cancer or carcinoma in situ was detected in 29 (2.7%) of the other wives and in seven (1.1%) of the control wives. A total of 14.0% of the other wives had either cervical cancer or a cervical cytological specimen which was other than normal. The corresponding statistic for the control wives was 8.0%. These differences in the prevalence of cervical cancer and of non-normal cervical cytology are statistically significant. In the course of this investigation so far, we have identified 29 "marital clusters" of cervical cancer in which two women married to the same man have all developed cervical neoplasms. The observed number of 29 clusters may be compared with an expected number of 11.6. This investigation, as yet incomplete, offers confirmatory evidence of the possible role of venereal factors in the pathogenesis of human cervical neoplasia. While the genital herpesvirus is the likeliest candidate, other venereal elements might also be involved.

Recent findings of viruses in human smegma and semen, and in cancers of the prostate, cervix, and bladder, tend to confirm the author's original concept of a venereally transmitted virus in such cancers. Through a unique demographic opportunity in Brooklyn, a survey of my Caucasian middle class private patients from 1930-41, showed a 1.7% incidence of prostate cancer in the more or less sexually segregated Jews vs. 20% among the largely uncircumcised non-Jews. A later study also showed a lower incidence of bladder and rectal cancers in Jews. Living conditions and hygienic facilities were similar. The involvement of the prostate was the keystone of the concept, since this internal organ is commonly accessible only to ascending venereal infections. Cancers of all organs generally susceptible to VD showed lower incidences in Jews. Their practice of complete circumcision usually protects them from genital cancers, unless they practice sexual promiscuity and acquire venereal infections.

In a study of 50 patients with carcinoma of the cervix matched with 50 healthy controls, the frequency of sexual intercourse was found to be significantly higher in patients as compared with controls. There were no differences in the observance of personal cleanliness by the husbands of patients as compared with controls. Since an alkaline milieu surrounding mucus-bearing epithelial cells renders the mucus fluid which in this state escapes from the cell, and since this is known to cause hyperplasia, metaplasia and an increase in mitotic activity, changes in the pH of semen were studied as a result of daily, weekly and fortnightly ejaculations. As the frequency of ejaculation increased the semen became more alkaline. The view is presented that it is not the smegma but the alkaline reaction, if the sex act is frequent, which may bear a causal responsibility for carcinoma of cervix. Sheath contraception would, therefore, appear to be an important measure in the prevention of carcinoma of cervix.