Can the HP virus be transmitted through oral sex?
Transmission through oral sex is possible without any problems, since the human papilloma virus requires a “leaky” skin area to penetrate. Since the mouth is a mucous membrane, it does not have a protective horny layer, which allows the viruses to penetrate it unhindered. However, transmission in the opposite direction is also possible. The penis and vagina also have mucous membranes through which the viruses can enter the body. In both cases, however, a skin area contaminated with HPV or similar is required to transport the viruses to the mucous membranes.
How long is the incubation period?
The incubation period of human papilloma viruses is usually between four weeks and eight months. It depends on the immune status of the infected person and on the viral load during transmission. The greater the viral load, i.e. the more viruses are transmitted, the shorter the incubation period is usually.
Cervical cancer caused by HPV
To put your mind at rest, not every infection with human papilloma viruses leads per se to the development of cervical cancer. Among the well over one hundred different HPV types, it is especially the types 16,18,31 and 45 that are associated with an increased risk. The so-called cervical cancer vaccinations are also designed against exactly these subspecies in order to minimize infection and thus the risk of cancer development. If the viruses nevertheless succeed in infecting the uterus during sexual intercourse, the viruses nestle in the cells of the cervix and slowly begin to disable the cell’s own “control mechanisms”, so that in the course of 10 to 15 years the cervical cells begin to degenerate.
Laryngeal cancer caused by HPV
There is currently no clear evidence for the connection between HPV infections and throat cancer, as the exact mechanism is still unclear. However, studies have shown that a significant number of people with throat cancer were also infected with HPV. In most cases, this is HPV type 16 or 18, which is known to cause cancer in a specific cell type that is also found in the larynx. However, there is also reason for hope in this context because it is assumed that the treatment of laryngeal cancer caused by human papilloma viruses works relatively well. Far better in any case than throat cancer caused by smoking or alcohol.
