frequency of human papilloma virus among pregnant women by pcr technique

today, it has been confirmed that the viral infections play an important role in premature delivery and abortion. this study was carried out to determine the frequency rate of papilloma virus types 16 and 18 in pregnant women and their relationship with premature delivery and abortion. in this study, vaginal secretions were collected from pregnant women who had been referred to the women clinics in tonekabon, a city in north of iran. the samples were used to amplify e6 gene of papilloma virus through polymerase chain reaction method. the results were analyzed by χ2 statistical test. of 47 tested samples, 14 cases were infected with type 16 papilloma virus (hpv16) (29.78%), while 3 cases were infected with type 18 papilloma virus (hpv18) (6.38%). papilloma virus infection had no significant relationship with abortion and premature delivery. considering the obtained findings, it appears that a high percentage of the study population was infected with hpv16 virus. therefore, risk of affliction with abortion and premature delivery can be decreased up to a limit in this region by screening before pregnancy.