I have been in a monogamous relationship for the past 10 years, but I am worried that I may have contracted oral HPV from one of my earlier relationships, and it has developed into oral cancer - one ex confirmed he had been with other partners and engaged in risky behavior while we were seeing each other, and I had suspected another ex was involved with other(s), but it wasn't confirmed.  

By way of background, and HPV infections of the throat are far less common than HPV of the genital tract and would present, often resolve over a period of months.   Most search infections are asymptomatic.

Regarding your other questions about HPV, HPV spread almost exclusively by direct contact with an infected site. It is not transmitted to or from the throat through kissing or exchange of survivor.  Nor is it typically transmitted by sharing towels, drinking glasses, or eating utensils.  The virus is also not spread through contact with contaminated inanimate objects such as toilet seats.

As I have already said above, I would encourage you to seek evaluation by a trained ear nose and throat specialist. At the same time however statistically it is quite unlikely that you have HPV or cancer of the throat. A final piece of advice is to urge you to stay off the Internet. Much of what you said there is incorrect and misleading.

EWH 

I have some more questions about tests.  Are HPV tests that are done with Pap Smears accurate?  I have been getting those with my regular OBGYN, but 1.5 years ago, after an emotional surgery involving my reproductive organs, I told the reproductive endocrinologist, who did the surgery, that I had a burning sensation in my cervix during intercourse.  This had been within 8-10 weeks of the surgery.  He said HPV can cause that, but I told him all of my HPV tests had been negative.  However, he said that the the only way to diagnose HPV is through a procedure involving a biopsy and vinegar.  I didn't do this at the time because it resolved a few weeks later, so I thought the burning sensation was due to mental stress and worry following the surgery I had, which had involved miscarriage, so it was very emotional.    Do you know about this type of HPV test, what the steps are, when this is necessary, and how long the recovery time is?  Does this mean HPV tests with Pap Smears aren't accurate, and is this vinegar test the only reliable way to definitively diagnose HPV?  I've also used an at home test for this, which said it was negative.  When done correctly, do you think an HPV at home test would be accurate?  I am asking about these vaginal tests, because I'm wondering if a person can have HPV in both the vagina and later contract in the the throat through oral sex.

Also, is it possible that a monagamous couple of 10 years may not have passed HPV that had been acquired before our relationship to each other?  If there is suspicion that I might have it, should my partner get the vaccine? 

Thanks.

With all due respect to your reproductive endocrinologist, I disagree.  The "vinegar" test is out of date and the results are non-specific both missing some HPV infections and giving false positive results in other situations.  Further, most HPV infections are asymptomatic.  OTOH, the tests for HPV used in concert with PAP smears are highly accurate and anyone with repeated negative HPV tests as part of their regular PAP smears can be confident that they do not have active HPV.  I strongly encourage you to believe your HPV test results and not worry about transmission of any past HPV to your partner of many years.  For persons such as you in a stable monogamous relationship, I see no need for either person to have the HPV vaccine.  

I would still encourage you to see an ENT about your sore throat and to put any lingering concerns you might have about throat cancer to rest.  EWH

I have one other question about HPV.  Can it cause testicular cancer?  I've seen that HPV is connected to a lot of other cancers involving several reproductive organs, but I haven't seen if it may cause testicular cancer.  Are there accurate HPV tests for males that may analyze urine or sperm for HPV?  

In regards to HPV testing, do tests from pap smears or any tests of male specimen only pick up a current/active infection within 1-2 years, or can it identify a dormant/latent HPV strand that someone has had for years?  

Thanks again. 

No, HPV does not cause testicular cancer.  Testicular cancer arises from cells which are not infected by HPV.

There are no tests currently recommended for HPV testing in men, nor is testing for HPV recommended.

End of thread.  EWH