Professor Eduardo Franco, director of McGill University’s Cancer Epidemiology Unit, led the study of young couples and found that almost 56 percent of young adults in a new sexual relationship were infected with human papillomavirus (HPV). Out of these nearly half were infected with HPV type which causes cancer.

Dr. Ann Burchell, former PhD student fellow with Dr. Franco, conducted the HITCH Cohort study (HPV Infection and Transmission in couples through Heterosexual activity). She conducted this study to find out the percentage of HPV infections among recently formed couples.

It is first time that such a detailed study of HPV infection has been conducted among couples early in their sexual relationships. The probability of transmission of any sexual disease is the highest in the initial stages of a relationship.

The results also indicate that there is a high possibility of HPV transmission between partners. The results of the study were published in the January 2010 issues of Epidemiology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Dr. Ann Burchell said, “These results build on our knowledge that HPV infection is very common among young adults, and underline the importance of prevention programs for HPV-associated diseases such as cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination.”