Sexual Behaviors and Other Risk Factors for Oral Human Papillomavirus Infections in Young Women

Abstract

Background Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with a rising incidence of certain head and neck cancers, and oral sex has been associated with oral HPV. This study sought to identify more specific patterns of oral sexual activity, including self-inoculation, that are associated with oral HPV infections in young women. Methods A total of 1010 women attending a large university completed a computer-based questionnaire and provided oral specimens that were tested for any oral HPV using a Linear Array assay that detects any HPV as well as 37 HPV genotypes. Twenty-seven women provided additional samples up to 12 months after enrollment. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to identify oral sexual patterns and other risk factors associated with prevalent oral HPV. Results Nineteen women had prevalent oral HPV (1.9%), with 10 women (1%) having a type-specific infection. Oral HPV was significantly associated with lifetime coital sex partnership numbers (P = 0.03), lifetime and yearly oral sex partnership numbers (P < 0.01), and hand and/or sex toy transfer from genitals to mouth (P < 0.001). Oral HPV was also associated with greater use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and sharing of smoking devices, lipstick, or toothbrushes (P < 0.05 for each), with an apparent dose-response for alcohol use and smoking behavior, stratified by number of sexual partners. Of 7 women with prevalent HPV who provided follow-up samples, none had evidence of a persistent type-specific infection. Conclusions These data provide additional evidence of transmission of oral HPV from oral sexual activity and also suggest possible transmission from self-inoculation or sharing of oral products.

Awareness of head and neck cancer – a multicentre survey among young respondents in Poland

“…Patients suffering from HPV‐positive types of cancer are relatively younger, compared with patients with HPV‐unrelated disease. The main reason for this is thought to be a change in sexual behaviours among young people, particularly sexual initiation at a younger age, the increasing popularity of oral sex and a higher number of sexual partners. Furthermore, adolescents associate oral sex with a lower health or social risk, compared with vaginal sex, which puts them at a high risk of infection.…”

No role for human papillomavirus infection in oral cancers in a region in southern India

“…5,31,32 The population characteristics show that 46.6% of all the participants had ever had oral sex but at the same time, the proportion of cases and controls that reported having one lifetime sexual partner is 89.9%, suggesting that risky sexual behavior is low. A relatively high proportion of subjects had missing values for oral sex, and this proportion was somewhat higher among the cases.…”

Methylation of HPV 16 and EPB41L3 in oral gargles: Associations with oropharyngeal cancer detection and tumor characteristics

“…In the US, 70–90% of OPC cases are attributable to HPV . Two different etiologies of OPC are conceptualized—one promoted by tobacco and the other by HPV . Response to treatment differs significantly by tumor HPV status with poorer outcomes observed among HPV negative OPC cases.…”

“…47 Two different etiologies of OPC are conceptualized-one promoted by tobacco and the other by HPV. [48][49][50][51][52] Response to treatment differs significantly by tumor HPV status with poorer outcomes observed among HPV negative OPC cases. Despite better outcomes among HPV related OPC, 10% of cases recur, hence the need for biomarkers that can detect cases at earlier stages when treatment is more efficacious.…”