Sexual Transmission of Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection among Men

Abstract

We estimated the prevalence of oral human papillomavirus (HPV) and assessed risk factors among young heterosexual men participating in the HPV Infection and Transmission among Couples through Heterosexual Activity (HITCH) study. Oral and genital HPV samples were collected from 222 men and their female partners who were participating in the HITCH study, a longitudinal cohort on HPV transmission among heterosexual couples. Demographic and behavioral data were collected through self-administered computer questionnaires and biologic samples were tested with the Linear Array for HPV. Outcome measures were overall and typespecific prevalence of oral HPV. The prevalence of oral HPV among men was 7.2% and was higher among men who were ever smokers (12.2%), in nonmonogamous relationships (17.9%), or had a partner with oral (28.6%) and/or genital (11.5%) HPV infection. Moreover, prevalence increased with frequency of oral sex among men whose partner who had a genital infection with the same HPV type. Our results provide further evidence that oral HPV may be transmitted through either oral-oral or oral-genital routes. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(12); 2959-64. Ó2014 AACR.

Risk Factors for Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…In addition, that association was significant in females (OR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.26 - 3.82, P = 0.0058) [12, 13, 23], indicating a strong relationship between females and HPV prevalence. In their previous study, Dahlstrom et al found a statistically significant association between smoking and oral HPV infection in males [13]. Together, these results suggest that oral sex experience and smoking are related to oral HPV infection, while it is important to note that smoking is strongly associated with oral HPV infection in females.…”

“…In Japan, the decreasing average age at starting sexual activities may have increased the HPV infection rate in young people [48, 49]. The most common high-risk type of HPV infection seen in the oral cavity and cervix of sexually active young people is HPV16 [9, 12, 13, 27, 47]. Furthermore, HPV42 is a common low-risk HPV type seen in those locations in young females [9, 27], while HPV18 is commonly found in the cervix but not the oral cavity in young subjects [9, 12, 13, 27].…”

Oral HPV prevalence in general healthy dental patients and patients with oral and oropharyngeal neoplasms in Bulgaria

“…Some studies have shown that the virus can be transferred through oral sex to a person who has genital HPV infection, while others claim the infection can spread by kissing with a person with oral HPV infection and lately there are more bold claims to carry of the virus in simple contact (16).…”

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

“…3,4 Transmission of the virus, which occurs through orogenital contact or oral-oral contact, and other sexual behavior [5][6][7] may explain the presence of HPV in the oral cavity and its possible relation with HNC.…”