The effect of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines on vulvar condylomata.

Abstract

Objective: Current evidence concerning the possible clinical effects of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines on vulvar lesions is limited. The aim was to describe the effect of vaccines against COVID-19 on the progression of vulvar condylomas.

Material and methods: The data of patients diagnosed with condylomata acuminate and treated with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) between January 2021 and January 2023 in the gynecological oncology surgery clinic were evaluated. The patients were divided into groups based on their vaccination status; vaccinated or unvaccinated. The number/area of condylomas and symptom degrees of the patients before and after TCA treatment were compared.

Results: A total of 202 patients, 102 vaccinated and 100 unvaccinated, were included. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age, parity, smoking, oral contraceptive use, amount of condyloma and symptom degree (all p>0.05). There was no significant difference in the amount of condyloma between the groups after six months [p=0.589, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.238-1.566]. Moreover, there was no difference in the degree of symptoms after six months between the groups (p=0.467, 95% CI=1.113-1.799).

Conclusion: The systemic effects caused by COVID-19 vaccines are still not fully understood. Considering that this vaccine, like many vaccines, elicits a strong immunogenic reaction, the possible clinical impact of this non-specific systemic inflammatory response on vulvar condyloma is a matter of curiosity. This study showed there was no difference in the amount of condyloma and the degree of symptoms six months after TCA treatment in the unvaccinated and vaccinated group. The low number of patients is the biggest limitation of this study. Larger studies may provide more robust information.