We know the sexually transmitted infection HPV (human papillomavirus) is linked to cervical cancer. But did you know that now doctors say there is also a link between oral sex and throat cancer. According to ABC News reports, a study by researchers at John Hopkins shows that patients with oral cancer are getting younger and many have HPV-16 in their biopsy specimen.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 34,000 people in the U.S. have oral cancer and 39% of those cases are related to HPV. Patients with oral cancer include both men and women. Many patients are in their 30s and 40s, non-smokers, and otherwise healthy adults. HPV is transmitted by direct contact, which means you only get the virus in the location it attaches. That means HPV doesn't travel through the bloodstream from someplace else. How does it get in the mouth? There is a link between oral sex and oral cancer. Doctors haven't been able to rule out transmission by saliva through kissing, sharing drinks, etc. You can't wash the HPV out of your mouth. Instead you have to treat the virus with an extensive drug treatment.
Unfortunately there is no oral screening method for HPV through saliva. You have to pay attention to the symptoms: a persistent sore throat accompanied by swollen glands. Men are 35% more likely than women to develop HPV-related oral cancer according to the John Hopkins study.
Now is a great time to talk to your teen about HPV and oral cancer. Because teens tend to think oral sex is relatively safe compared to vaginal sex, they need to be made aware of the link between HPV and oral cancer.
