[Question #11018] Oral exposure to high risk HPV

17 months ago

Hi Dr's!

I'm a 28 year old male, had previously asked a question where I had deep kissing for a couple of hours with a partner who survived cervical cancer about 1.5 months back. Over the last week I've seen a really tiny bump - almost a dot - near the left top soft palate. It's completely painless and non sore. Does this sound like something HPV 16/ any other strain would cause and would you advise getting tested/examined ASAP?

I'm worried I'm overthinking it and hoping there's no way HPV would impact me this fast. Looking forward to your suggestions!

Thanks again!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

17 months ago

Welcome back to the Forum although I'm sorry thatyou felt the need. Let me remind you of that was said during our past interaction " A. You do not know that you have HPV. B. You do not know that your partner had oral HPV. C. HPV infections resulting from kissing are relatively rare. D. Even if you had acquired HPV from your encounter, more than 97% of HPV infections in men are self limited and resolve without therapy. Even fewer progress to genital cancer." Despite this you continue to worry, asking purely hypothetical "what if" questions. I urge you to seek counseling to help you address your inappropriate and unwarranted concerns.

In response to your questions- Most HPV 16 infections, and particularly those in the throat, are asymptomatic and do NOT present as visible lesions. Further, when HPV infections causes lesions, they do not appear until more than 2 months following an exposure and more typically around 3 months. It is far more likely that your unwarranted paranoia has lead you to notice an otherwise normal oral lesion that has been present for some time or is transient and certainly ins NOT due to HPV.

You need to get a grip on yourself. EWH

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