# HPV path of infection **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hpv-path-of-infection/749127 "2016-03-16T01:20:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![butterfiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@butterfiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butterfiles)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hpv-path-of-infection/749127/1 "2016-03-16T01:20:44Z")
Can an HPV infection transmitted via oral intercourse lead to cervical infection and dysplasia? I know viruses are tricky. I’ve done google research & have a good overall sense of the variety of ways that HPV is spread, but I’m specifically trying to answer the question of infectious path within the body. I did find one cite stating that cervical infection does not lead to oral infection, but the source is not entirely reliable. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2016, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hpv-path-of-infection/749127/2 "2016-03-16T09:32:46Z")
HPV infects similar membrane tissue (membranes with glands ? ) such as cervix, vagina, penis and throat… and anus… It may cause warts in these areas, but the lack of warts doesn’t mean that there isn’t HPV to pick up there. Some of the strains cause cancer . See > **[Information About the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)](https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/hpv-genital-warts/hpv-virus-information-about-human-papillomavirus)** > > Infection by HPV (the human papillomavirus) is common. WebMD explains the risks of infection and the strains of HPV that can lead to cancer. You can get it from going down on a female (cunnilingus) and or fellatio. Or anal sex, and its even possible even when using a condom. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hpv-path-of-infection/749127/3 "2023-04-27T18:41:08Z")
And now an epidemic of throat cancer due HPV: > **[Oral sex stoking throat cancer ‘epidemic’ in UK and US, say experts](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/oral-sex-throat-cancer-uk-us-b2327921.html)** > > Experts say people with multiple partners were up almost nine times more likely to develop the cancer ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hpv-path-of-infection/749127/4 "2023-04-27T18:58:17Z")
> [@butterfiles](#): > > Can an HPV infection transmitted via oral intercourse lead to cervical infection and dysplasia? The short answer appears to be no. “HPV infection is highly localized to squamous epithelial sites, without significant systemic manifestations.” [http://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/CDLI.8.2.209-220.2001](http://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/CDLI.8.2.209-220.2001) I haven’t heard of cases in which blood or lymphatic-borne spread of HPV to distant mucosal sites was demonstrated. There however could be instances in which sexual contact, for example, spreads infectious virions from one mucosal site in the body to another. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hpv-path-of-infection/749127/5 "2023-04-28T02:07:10Z")
Yes. Oral sex exposure to genital or anal HPV may result in throat cancers. The question I think is if HPV harbored in the throat can/does transmit to genitalia or anus. Or is it located in a location that makes transmission _in that direction_ improbable? And since it can spread oral to oral then oral to GU or anal seems possible too. > **[HPV in the Mouth: Symptoms, Treatment & Living With Oral HPV](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15010-oropharyngeal-human-papilloma-virus-hpv-infection)** > > Oral HPV is a subtype of human papillomavirus. It mostly spreads through oral sex or mouth-to-mouth contact. You can prevent HPV by getting vaccinated. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hpv-path-of-infection/749127/6 "2023-04-29T10:46:36Z")
Ithonk the OP is asking if it can spread that way without an intermediary. Like, if I have never had vaginal intercourse but i have HPV in my throat, could it spread to my cervix through my blood? I think the answer is no. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hpv-path-of-infection/749127/7 "2023-04-29T11:19:34Z")
If then agree with you and Jackmanni.