Effect of a Second Pregnancy on the HPV Serology in Mothers Followed Up in the Finnish Family HPV Study

Abstract

The impact of pregnancy on human papillomavirus (HPV) natural antibody levels is not fully understood. We tested the seroprevalence and levels of HPV 6, 11, 16, 18 and 45 antibodies at different time points among 89 women with a second pregnancy and 238 nonpregnant women during their 36-month followup. All participants were unvaccinated for HPV and pregnant at the enrollment of the study. Serum samples were collected from the mothers at baseline and at the 12-month, 24-month, and 36-month followup visits. No statistically significant differences in mean antibody levels were observed in women who developed a second pregnancy compared to their nonpregnant counterparts. Between these two groups, statistically significant differences in serostatus were observed, particularly if the second pregnancy was ongoing at the 24-month timepoint. Accordingly, women with a second pregnancy were more likely to be seronegative for HPV 6, 11, 18, and 45 as compared to the nonpregnant women, the reverse being true for HPV16. In contrast, the women with an ongoing second pregnancy showed a higher prevalence of HPV16 seropositivity at the 36-month followup. These data suggest that a second pregnancy does not seem to have a major impact on the levels of HPV antibodies, but it might influence the serological outcomes.