To examine HPV infection of vagina in the absence of cervical tissue and, thus, to determine whether the cervix, and especially the cervical transformation zone, is required for HPV infection.

We analyzed the result of pap smears that were interpreted with the Bethesda system, and the result of HPV tests of 376 hysterectomized women and 605 non-hysterectomized women who had visited in Korea medical health care center from August 2004 to December 2005. HPV test was performed with the commercially available Hybrid Capture II assay. We estimated the prevalence of vaginal HPV infection in hysterectomised and non-hysterectomized women. The variables selected for analysis were age, time of hysterectomy, self reported reasons for hysterectomy, parity and so on.

Prevalence of vaginal HPV infection in hysterectomized women was 12.5% and non-hysterectomized women was 11.7%, showed no difference (p=0.72). The mean viral load of hysterectomized group was 79.1 and that of non-hysterctomized group was 173.9, which show no statistical difference between group (p=0.28). The cause of operation, age, duration since the operation, age group-specific duration since operation showed no difference in prevalence of HPV infection. Menopause state also did not show difference in HPV infection (p=0.67).

On the basis of the present study's data, we suggest that the cervix, particularly the cervical transformation zone, may not be needed for HPV infection in vagina.