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HPV is thought to cause 60% to 70% of oropharyngeal cancers in the United States — cancers of the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and the tonsils. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the country, and it usually takes years after infection for such a cancer to develop.
Oral HPV
Of the more than 100 types of HPV, about 40 spread through direct sexual contact — to the genitals, and to the mouth and throat. Oral HPV passes to the mouth through oral sex, and possibly in other ways.
- Many people are exposed to oral HPV at some point in life.
- About 10% of men and 3.6% of women have oral HPV, and it becomes more common with age.
- Most people clear HPV within 1 to 2 years; in some it persists.
HPV is not known to cause other head and neck cancers — of the larynx, lip, nose or salivary glands.
The oral cavity — lips, inner lining of the lips and cheeks, front two-thirds of the tongue, floor of the mouth, gums and hard palate — and behind it the oropharynx: the tonsils, the back third of the tongue, the soft palate and the back wall of the throat. CDC.
Symptoms
A sore throat that won't go away, earaches, hoarseness, swollen lymph nodes, pain when swallowing and unexplained weight loss. Some people have no symptoms at all. See a doctor promptly about any symptom that worries you.
Prevention
| HPV vaccine | Developed against cervical and other reproductive cancers, it protects against the HPV types that cause oropharyngeal cancers, so it may also prevent them. CDC recommends it at ages 11–12, and for everyone through 26 not already vaccinated. It is not recommended for everyone over 26, but some unvaccinated adults 27–45 may choose it after talking with a doctor — with less benefit, since more have already been exposed. It prevents new infections but doesn't treat existing ones, so it works best before any exposure |
| Condoms and dental dams | Used consistently and correctly, they lower the chance of passing HPV on |
| Tobacco and alcohol | Both may contribute to oropharyngeal cancers, and the risk is higher when they're used together. Don't smoke or use smokeless tobacco, avoid secondhand smoke, and limit alcohol |
Sources
Based on "HPV and Oropharyngeal Cancer," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 17, 2024; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licens: CC0 1.0 (offentligt eje) · Bearbejdet efter www.cdc.gov
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