San José, April 2026. A study conducted in Costa Rica by the Costa Rican Agency for Biomedical Research, administered by the INCIENSA Foundation (ACIB-FUNIN), revealed that anal infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is more common than previously estimated in the healthy adult population. Approximately 18 out of every 100 people between the ages of 50 and 74 have the infection.

The results were presented by researchers Rebeca Ocampo and Loretto Carvajal on March 18 at the EUROGIN conference in Vienna, Austria. Among the main findings, it was noted that carcinogenic anal HPV infection—associated with the development of cancer—is more common in women (25%) than in men (11%).

In general, the results confirm that anal HPV is very common in this age group, especially in women, and that its presence reflects cumulative sexual exposure throughout life.

In addition, differences were also observed between men and women in the factors associated with infection, suggesting that the virus can be acquired through different routes, including sexual relations or mechanisms such as self-inoculation and genital contact.

According to Dr. Rebeca Ocampo, principal investigator of the study, these results provide relevant information to understand better the dynamics of anal HPV transmission in the population.

The study also found that, in women, HPV infection in the anus frequently coexists with infection in the cervix.

The study recruitment began in June 2025 and ended in March 2026 with a total of 1,000 participants (500 men and 500 women).

“These results represent a relevant contribution to the knowledge about anal HPV, where the evidence has mainly focused on populations with compromised immune systems, while this study incorporates data on healthy adults, a previously poorly characterized group,” emphasizes Dr. Loretto Carvajal, researcher at ACIB-FUNIN.

The findings open the door to future research and the possible implementation of early detection strategies for anal cancer in the general population, which could contribute to improved prevention and timely diagnosis.