Prevalence and Genotype Distribution of Human Papillomavirus Infection among 12 076 Iranian Women

•Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major concern for women in developing countries•In this study, HPV prevalence was calculated at 38.68% in Iranian women•The most prevalent high-risk HPV types were 16, 52, 18, 39, 31, and 51•Of the 135 cytology-positive people, 81 individuals (60%) were also HPV-positive•The most frequent type in both cytology and HPV tests positive cases was HPV 16 Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the major health concerns of women in developing countries. This study gives an insight into the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV infection and compares it with Pap smear results among Iranian women. Methods: In this study, 12 076 Iranian women underwent routine examination from November 2016 to November 2018 using HPV Direct Flow CHIP System for HPV DNA typing. Cytology was undertaken for 5138 samples. Results: Overall HPV prevalence was calculated at 38.68%. The most frequent HPV types were HPV 6, 16, 11, 62/81, 52 and 54. The most high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) types were HPV 16, 52, 18, 39, 31 and 51. These 2 groups represent approximately half of all HPV types detected, 47% and 55%, respectively. Among individuals who underwent cytological tests, 135 individuals (2.63%) were cytologically positive. In this group, 81 individuals (60%) were HPV positive, 62 (76%) of whom were HR-HPV positive, most frequently with HPV 16 (34%). Conclusion: This study highlights the urgent need for public education and early diagnosis using HPV screening tests to prevent cervical cancer.