Efficacy of iodine solution administered via a treatment applicator for treating human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the cervix.

World-wide cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer in women. Infection of the uterine cervix with human papillomavirus (HPV) is very common, with a small proportion of those infected progressing to cervical cancer. To date, no treatment of viral infection has been available and only the cell changes brought about by the virus relatively late in the infection are treated by one of the standard surgical methods which remove parts of the cervix affected by the virus. This proof of concept research is to trial application of iodine via a novel delivery device to the upper vaginal vault, ectocervix (outside of the cervix) and endocervical canal (passage that leads from the cervix to the uterus). Women who have persisting HPV despite standard surgical treatment to the cervix are to be recruited and treated as an outpatient procedure, the trial assessing the duration of treatment required for successful eradication of the virus. Should the treatment be found to be effective, women at long term risk of acquiring cervical cancer or adenocarcinoma as a consequence of persistent HPV infection will be offered treatment to eradicate the infection, the HPV vaccine if unvaccinated, then returned to normal follow up as mandated by the accepted guidelines. Health savings will be significant to the WA government by offering a treatment that eradicates an infection linked to potential cancer development (not currently possible) and the necessary follow up the infection entails.