Could HPV Infection Be Contracted Orally?

Could the human papilloma virus (HPV) be contracted during kissing or oral sexual contact? Researches carried out by John Hopkins Univ. scientists have shown that HPV and even oro-pharyngeal cancer could be contracted via oral route.

The study outcomes have appeared in ‘the New England Journal of Medicine’ and have found strong links between being exposed and infected with HPV and augmented likelihood of oral cavity and throat cancers. HPV infection is a risk factor similar to alcohol, tobacco and has evolved to be the prime reasons for oral cancer among males, in competition with smoking and alcoholism.

Startling Facts regarding HPV

The Oral Cancer Foundation has listed more than 120 varied strains of HPV that afflict varied body areas causing wart formations over the skin’s surface or genital area. Many of these warts do not cause any harm to the body whereas there are others that are cancer causative. HPV virus is transmitted through skin touch or sexual intercourse. These HPV strains in their early stages are not causal to any apparent symptoms and are often tackled by the immune system of the body. Factually, adults who are sexually active have a seventy-five percent likelihood of developing HPV in any phase of their life although they might be unaware of its presence or the infection mostly resolving with no therapy – even in the case of high risk HPV viral forms. However, protracted infection with an elevated risk HPV viral form could cause cancer like the sexually-acquired HPV strains causing cancers of the cervix, penis and are presently identified to be contributory to oral cancer. HPV transmission through oral route is very much a possibility.

HPV Infection Transmission Via Oral Route

French kisses or deep kisses or oral sex could lead to the HPV strain being transmitted. Oropharyngeal cancer linked to HPV is a gradual-spreading and sly disease and could take a decade or two prior to the oral HPV infection progressing to cancer.

HPV Preventative Measures

Vaccinations of Cervarix, Gardasil are preventative measures though are incapable of treating existent HPV infection. These vaccinations shield from the HPV form associated with cancers of the cervix and mouth. During 2010, there has been Gardasil vaccine approval for men in the age group from nine to twenty-six years and women in the age band of thirteen to twenty-six years. However, Cervarix has garnered approval for use exclusively among women.

Alongside getting vaccinated, it is advisable to restrict the number of sex mates and warily select mates with less or no earlier mates. This would help in decreasing the likelihood of getting HPV infection. It is also recommended that people get screened yearly for presence of oral cancer with their dentists. This step could additionally help in detecting any HPV alterations earlier on which might otherwise fail to get noticed for several years.