This is known as oral HPV.
In most cases, oralhuman papillomavirusdoesnt cause symptoms, and people dont notice that they have it.
Sometimes, people with an oral HPV infection developwartsor lesions (sores) on their tongue.
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Theyre typically small, hard, and painless.
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Symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer include:
Reproduced with permission from DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
What Healthcare Providers Diagnose and Treat Oral HPV?
Various healthcare providers may diagnose oral HPV.
Transmission and Contagiousness
Like other forms of HPV, oral HPV is transmitted through sexual activity.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
However, oral human papillomavirus infections develop after making out or oral sex.
Its unclear as to whether theHPV vaccineprevents oral HPV.
Tobacco and alcohol use and having a higher number of sexual partners increase your chance of getting oral HPV.
Being male orimmunocompromisedalso puts you at a higher risk of developing the condition.
What Strains of HPV Affect the Tongue?
HPV has over 100 known strains.
How Long Do Symptoms Last?
For most people, oral HPV symptoms resolve within two years or less.
However, only certain high-risk strains of oral HPV can cause head and neck cancer.
According to the American Dental Association, for example, approximately 7% of American adults have oral HPV.
Here are a few tips to consider:
When Can You Have Sex Again?
In many cases, you wont know if you have a human papillomavirus infection or not.
Usingdental damsor condoms during oral sex can also reduce your likelihood of transmission.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions about safer sex or preventing HPV transmission.
Using protection while having oral sex may help to prevent oral HPV transmission, but its not foolproof.
Reach out to a healthcare provider if youre concerned that you may have or develop oral HPV.
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Planned Parenthood.HPV and cervical cancer prevention.
