Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The oral transmission of HPV and, consequently, the risk of oral cancer has increased in the last years. Oral sex has often been implicated among the risk factors for oral HPV infections, however, there is still no consensus on these topics, nor on the relationship between genital and oral HPV infections.
The present study aimed to evaluate the coexistence of papilloma virus, at the levels of the oral and genital mucosa, in women with a histologically confirmed HPV lesions and a positive HPV test at the genital level and a negative HPV control group. We also evaluated how some risk factors, such as smoking, the number of partners, age, and sexual habits can influence the possible presence of the virus itself in the oropharynx of the same women.
In total, unvaccinated women aged between 18 and 52 were enrolled. In none of the women with oral HPV did we find any relevant clinical lesions. The potential risk factors for HPV infections in the oropharynx and genitals were analyzed based on questionnaire responses.
Screening and early diagnosis are considered to be practically unfeasible for this category of cancer, given the lack of visible lesions; the 9-valent HPV vaccine remains the only means that could help to successfully counter the growing incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Genital HPV infection is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the world [ 1 ].
In Europe and North America, its peak prevalence is recorded in young women under the age of 25, soon after the onset of sexual activity. Papillomavirus also exerts its oncogenic capacity against other organs: the oropharynx, anus, vulva, and penis [ 4 ]. The cervix, palatine tonsil, and anal region are characterized by the presence of a squamocolumnar junction, the site of metaplasia, which creates a suitable habitat for the reproduction of papillomavirus; in fact, cervical cancer, anal cancer, and cancer of the oropharynx occur more frequently in the population at risk.
