HPV & Oral Cancer

[Ali100Ali]

Hi,

I’m a guy and was thinking about having oral sex with my girlfriend, but read somewhere that you can develop oral cancer by having oral sex. I have the following questions:

1. Would it be sensible to use protection such as a dental dam/condom and should this be a permanent thing?

2. As I have lightly gently kissed her on the inner thighs and pubic mound (once - we have only recently taken our relationship further) and she has kissed me also have we been orally exposed to any possible cancer causing hpvs anyway?

Thanks for your advice,

Ali

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It is good that you are thinking about using condoms and dental dams when having oral sex and vaginal sex. Warts are tumours or growths of the skin caused by infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV).They are contagious when in contact with the skin of an infected person. However using condoms and dental dams reduce the transmission of HPV considerably.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[veryworried420]

The odds of getting oral cancer from oral sex is much, much lower than the odds of getting HPV from genital sex. It isn't a one and done deal. If you two are 26 or under, get the vaccine. She can be tested to confirm her genital health. A dental dam or condom will provide more protection than unsafe oral sex but you cannot assume she has oral HPV. A dentist can provide an oral exam to see if any growths are in her mouth.

Basically, you are reading too much online crap that may be saying every oral sex act will lead to getting oral HPV and oral HPV will lead to getting oral cancer. If that was true, 95% of the sexually active adults would have it. The current percentage is less 3-5%.