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A carrageenan-based lubricant could prevent HPV infection, thereby reducing the disease burden in this population. This paper describes the protocol for the Lubricant Investigation in Men to Inhibit Transmission of HPV Infection (LIMIT-HPV) study, an ongoing randomised controlled trial (RCT), evaluating efficacy of a carrageenan-based personal lubricant in reducing type-specific anal HPV incidence and prevalence among sexually active gbMSM, efficacy by HIV status, safety and tolerability of the gel and participant adherence to the intervention.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods and analysis<\/jats:title><jats:p>The study is a double-blinded, placebo-controlled RCT. Volunteer gbMSM 18 years and older are randomly assigned 1:1 to receive the treatment (a self-applied anal microbicide gel with carrageenan) or placebo (a self-applied placebo gel). At each visit, computerised questionnaires are used to collect data on sociodemographic and clinical variables, lifestyle, sexual behaviour and the gels\u2019 safety and tolerability. At baseline and each follow-up visit (months 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12), nurses collect anal specimens tested for 36 HPV types (linear array assay). HIV status is determined at baseline and 12 months. The primary outcome is incidence of type-specific anal HPV infection(s) undetected at baseline. Secondary outcomes are prevalence of type-specific anal HPV infection, safety, tolerability and adherence. We aim to recruit 380 participants to attain the study\u2019s objectives. Data will be analysed using intention-to-treat and per-protocol approaches with subgroup analyses by HIV status.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Ethics and dissemination<\/jats:title><jats:p>Ethics approval was obtained by the Research Ethics Boards of McGill University, the McGill University Health Centre, Concordia University and Centre Hospitalier de l\u2019Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al. Trial results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Trial registration number<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" ext-link-type=\"clintrialgov\" specific-use=\"clinicaltrial pre-results\" xlink:href=\"NCT02354144\">NCT02354144<\/jats:ext-link>.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2019-035113","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,3,23]],"date-time":"2020-03-23T17:09:31Z","timestamp":1584983371000},"page":"e035113","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["Lubricant Investigation in Men to Inhibit Transmission of HPV Infection (LIMIT-HPV): design and methods for a randomised controlled 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