[Question #13957] Genital to Oral HPV via Hands

1 hours ago

Hi doctors,

Previously I asked about the probablity of autoinoculation from genital to oral and you answered that it's rare.

I have some questions:

- How rare is that? Is it like getting HPV from a shared razor? (As a probability comparision)

- Let's say, I had HPV on my genital area but without visible warts, I touched the area and then touched my thorat from inside after 2 minute (e.g., to vomit) In this case is the viral load low? If yes, does that make it less likely for autoinoculation?

-In order for a cancer to develop, is the initial viral load important? In this case even if I get it via autoinoculation is oral cancer low risk? Or maybe close to zero?

Thank you doctors.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

26 minutes ago

Welcome back to the Forum although it saddens me to see that you concern to worry about HPV, presumably related to the virtually no risk encounter that you have asked me and Dr. Handsfield about in the past. HOV is an innocuous infection for which transmission and, for men, natural history, data are quite limited. To see you returning with these "what if" questions serves no purpose. Regarding your questions:

- How rare is that? Is it like getting HPV from a shared razor? (As a probability comparision)

There are no quality data on transmission of HPV through either sharing razors or through auto-inoculation. Both are theoretically possible but there are no data on frequency. If anything, sharing through autoinoculation is less common than the rare transmission of the virus through sharing or razors. As mentioned above, there are no data to suggest that autoinoculation transmits HPV to any appreciable degree.

The concept of "viral load" is unexplored and has limited applicability for HPV. This risk of infection from the sort of event you describe is effectively zero for all practical purposes.

-In order for a cancer to develop, is the initial viral load important? In this case even if I get it via autoinoculation is oral cancer low risk? Or maybe close to zero?

Virtually zero.

I find myself wondering why you are so disproportionately worried about HPV. Are you vaccinated? If so there is virtually no imaginable risk at all from the scenarios you describe. If you are not, I wonder why not and even if you are not, your risk is AT MOST is a small fraction of 1%. EWH

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17 minutes ago

Hi doctor, thanks for your answer. I'm in general very anxious and I have very bad OCD. I'm not vaccinated but will get vaccinated, but my concern is because of the past infections, as vaccine is only for the future infections.

I'm just concerned about a oral HPV cancer that might happen to me in maybe 10 or 15 year later, due to the single risky sexual contact that I had.

Even though it was protected, I'm just worried about autoinoculation. But I think I won't get a throat cancer from this right? Maybe it's even a funny question. I don't know, maybe I should get a psychological treatment.

But thank you for your answer, really valuable for me.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

8 minutes ago

Thanks for acknowledging your OCD. I realize it is a struggle. I hope you are under care. If so, I suggest you share this and our past interchange with your therapist. If you are not receiving therapy, I encourage you to do so.

Your questions regarding the risk of throat cancer are unwarranted. There is no appreciable risk.

Please get therapy...and vaccinated. EWH

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4 minutes ago

I will do so doctor. Thanks for all the answers. This thread can be closed. Have a nice day.