Should the throat require testing with pap smears or HPV testing since oral sex is common in practice?

Doctor's Answer

Thank you for the question.

HPV or Human Papilloma Virus infection can affect the mouth and throat and this can indeed be transmitted through oral sex. HPV infection of the mouth or throat and can lead to the development of oral or throat cancers.

Pap smears are done to screen for cervical cancer. This is not done to screen for oral cancers.

There are no throat swabs to detect for oral HPV infection. Oral HPV presents with warty growths in the mouth or throat. The diagnosis can be made by doing a visual examination. A biopsy of the lesion can be done to confirm the diagnosis and to rule out underlying cancer.

Ask any health question for free

I’m not so sure about a procedure...

Ask Icon Ask a Question

Join Human

Sign up now for a free Human account to get answers from specialists in Singapore.

Sign Up

Get The Pill

Be healthier with our Bite-sized health news straight in your inbox