Can You Contract HPV Orally?

Advertisements in the past few years have brought attention to HPV, or human papillomavirus, and have linked it most commonly with women and cervical cancer. The truth is HPV can affect anyone. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that can affect both the genital and oral regions of the body, and the symptoms can be painful.

What is HPV?

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of 100 or more viruses that infects the epidermis and mucus membranes in human beings. The viruses get their name from the type of wart they can produce, called a papilloma, which is a non-cancerous tumor. Though the wart may be non-cancerous, HPV has been directly linked to not only cancers of the cervix, penis and anal regions of men and women, but is the largest factor in the rapid increase in recent diagnosis of oral cancers.

How is Oral HPV Contracted?

• Oral HPV occurs in the epithelial cells found below the surface of the skin in the mouth and throat. Oral HPV infection is transmitted primarily through oral sex, but can also be transmitted through kissing if infection is present in one partner and open sores or breaks in the skin are present in the mouth of the other. Infection is passed through mucous membranes, bodily fluids or infected genital skin.

What are the Symptoms of Oral HPV?

• HPV is unique in that an infected person can go completely symptom free, or they can have a variety of symptoms. Some of the symptoms associated with oral HPV include blisters, lesions or warts, as well as pain, inflammation and swelling. Blisters and warts can appear on the exterior and interior of the mouth as well as the tongue and throat. Lesions are symptomatic of oral HPV, and are sores in the mouth that can contain pus and have been known to bleed if irritated. Pain, inflammation and swelling of the mouth and throat can also occur.

  In addition to painful symptoms, oral HPV is directly linked to oropharyngeal cancer. This cancer affects the soft palate, base of the tongue and tonsils. It is also linked to cancers of the lips, cheeks, nose, esophagus and larynx.

  In rare cases, HPV is responsible for respiratory papillomatosis, which is a recurring respiratory ailment where warts develop on the larynx or other areas of the respiratory tract.

How is Oral HPV Treated?

• There is no cure for HPV. Oral HPV may occur and be symptom free, as the immune system may fight the outbreak successfully. Outbreaks resulting in symptoms may be treated by a physician. Cancers from oral HPV often require surgery. Lesions are commonly treated through cryosurgery, which freezes the infected tissue. Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) uses a hot wire loop to remove tissue. Conventional surgery may also be employed. In cases of respiratory papillomatosis, repetitive surgeries may be required, as warts may recur and may potentially obstruct breathing.

How to Prevent Oral HPV

• The only way to prevent oral HPV is by abstaining from sexual activity. If sexually active, steps can be taken to reduce exposure to HPV. Limiting the number of sexual partners reduces the probability of infection as well as avoiding contact with infected skin.