Increased risk of cervical neoplasia in consorts of men with penile condylomata acuminata.

19 (76%) of 25 women who had been the sole sexual consorts, for at least 1 year, of men with pre-existing penile condylomata acuminata had similar lesions of the lower genital tract. 9 (36%) of the women had an abnormal cervix as judged by cytology, colposcopy, and histology, and 7 (77%) of these 9 had associated human papillomavirus (HPV) infection detected by DNA/DNA hybridisation. None of 20 women in an age-matched control group had cytological or colposcopic evidence of cervical epithelial atypia. It is suggested that penile HPV infection in a male partner places a woman at risk of cervical neoplasia.