HPV (Human papillomavirus) is one of the most common STDs in the United States. It spreads through skin contact during sex. Most sexually active people will contract it at some point in their lifetime. They usually get HPV in their genitals that can be spread to the mouth or throat by unprotected oral sex. This’s also known as oral HPV. Do you understand clearly about oral HPV? Or do you know that it’s linked to oropharyngeal cancer? Keep reading the article to get more beneficial information.
HPV is a contagious disease. Therefore, all sexually active people always have an equal chance of contracting the virus. Besides, there’re several other factors putting you at risk of oral HPV.
Oral sex increases your risk of contracting oral HPV
These factors may put you at danger of getting oral HPV. The test for it, however, isn’t available. Your doctor can detect lesions through a cancer screening. Or if you have lesions, your doctor will do a biopsy to identify whether they’re cancerous.
Related: HPV Tests for Women and Men
Most people with oral HPV have no symptoms. So, they don’t realize that they’ve been infected and are less likely to take precautions to limit the spread of the disease. Though people with oral HPV can show up warts in the mouth and throat, this’s less common.
However, the high risk of HPV can turn into oropharyngeal cancer. The cancer cells can develop from oral HPV and form in the middle of the throat, including the pharynx walls, tonsils and tongue. You should notice the cancer if suffering from these symptoms:
These signs don’t always mean that you’ve cancer. But if you experience some of them that are constant for longer than 2 weeks, you should see your doctor.
Related: How Oral Sex Can Cause You Cancer
Oral HPV shows up warts in the mouth
Oral HPV usually goes away before they cause health issues in some people with strong immune system. Topical creams are available for treating HPV, such as:
These are effective in relieving symptoms of genital warts and prevent the virus from coming back. But, treating oral HPV with topical cream can be difficult because the warts are hard to reach. Instead, your doctor may use other methods to treat the warts, including:
Related: What You Should Do During Cervical Cancer Treatment
Cryotherapy can be used to treat oral HPV
Oropharyngeal cancer that is positive with HPV has better results and fewer relapses after treatment than one with negative result. If you develop the cancer from oral HPV, should receive treatment as soon as possible. Your treatment will depend on the stage and location of your cancer. It typically includes:
If left untreated, the tumor can spread throughout the tongue and to the floor of the mouth, the throat and the gums. Because a tumor develops, it may spread to the lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Related: What Will Happen if HPV Goes Untreated
Treatment for oropharyngeal cancer
It’s definitely “yes”. Oral HPV can be preventable by lifestyle changes. You can protect yourself from getting the infection by the following tips:
Oral HPV is a contagious disease that can be spread through skin contacts during sex. It also increases your risk of oropharyngeal cancer if you contract with high risk HPV. Because most of oral HPV don’t show up symptoms, you can’t realize you’re infected. However, if you notice abnormal symptoms after oral sex that last longer than 2 week, should see your doctor to check. It’s also important to raise your awareness of protecting yourself against the disease.
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