Quick Answer: HPV can cause throat cancer in men, especially through oral sex. Symptoms are often missed or misdiagnosed for months, and most men don’t know they’ve been infected. There is no routine HPV test for men, but there are ways to protect yourself.
The Virus That Hid in His Throat
Jason, 42, had never heard of “oral HPV” until it nearly killed him. “I knew HPV could cause cervical cancer, but I had no idea guys could get cancer from it too,” he said. Jason’s story isn’t rare, just rarely talked about. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is the most common STD in the world, and in recent years, it's become one of the leading causes of oropharyngeal cancer, cancer in the back of the throat, base of the tongue, or tonsils.
Unlike other STDs, HPV can sit in the body silently for years. Most people never show symptoms. For men, there's no screening test, and no visible warts or outbreaks in most oral HPV cases. That’s how it slips through undetected, until it doesn’t.
“It started as a sore throat I couldn’t shake,” Jason said. “I didn’t have any pain during sex, nothing obvious. I honestly thought I was being dramatic.”
By the time he saw an ENT, the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. The culprit: a strain of high-risk HPV that had likely been in his body for over a decade.
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Yes, You Can Get HPV from Oral Sex
If you’ve ever had mouth-to-genital or mouth-to-anus contact, you’ve been exposed to the risk. HPV doesn’t care about condoms (they help, but don’t block all skin-to-skin contact). And it doesn’t care if you’ve only had a few partners. Oral HPV is often passed during:
- Oral sex with someone who has genital HPV: Even if they have no symptoms.
- Deep kissing: Some studies show HPV can transmit through tongue-to-tongue contact.
- Rimming (oral-anal contact): Another high-risk site for anal HPV strains.
Many people think of HPV as “just a women’s issue”, something that causes abnormal Pap smears or cervical cancer. But in reality, HPV-related throat cancer is now more common in men than cervical cancer is in women, and it's rising fast.
What Does HPV-Related Throat Cancer Feel Like?
The hardest part? Most men don’t feel anything, until it’s advanced. HPV-related throat cancer often hides behind vague, everyday symptoms that can easily be mistaken for stress, allergies, or a lingering cold. Here are some of the most commonly missed signs:
- Persistent sore throat: Lasting longer than two weeks, especially on one side
- Difficulty swallowing: Feeling like something’s stuck or catching
- Ear pain on one side: Especially with no infection present
- Hoarseness or voice changes: Often dismissed as strain or smoking-related
- Lump in the neck or jawline: A swollen lymph node that doesn’t go down
Jason’s lump was the first clue, but by then, the tumor had spread. He had no warts, no fever, and no idea something so common could become so deadly. Most high-risk HPV infections clear on their own, but when they don’t, the virus can trigger cancer over time. And unlike cervical cancer, there’s no routine screening program for men to catch it early.
Why Didn’t He Get the HPV Vaccine?
Jason missed the vaccine window. He was already in his 20s when the HPV vaccine first came out, and the early messaging focused almost exclusively on girls. For years, boys weren’t even included in the recommendations. And by the time he learned that the vaccine could protect against throat cancer, it was too late.
Today, the CDC recommends HPV vaccination for everyone through age 26, and some adults up to age 45 may still benefit depending on their sexual history. But the stigma hasn’t gone away. Many men still don’t know they need the vaccine, or think it doesn’t apply to them.
“If someone had told me oral sex could give me cancer, I would’ve thought they were joking,” Jason said. “But I’d have gotten that shot in a heartbeat.”
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Don’t Wait to Regret It, Protect Yourself Now
Whether you're 19 or 39, it's not too late to make choices that protect your future. If you’re sexually active and haven’t been vaccinated against HPV, talk to a provider, or schedule a shot at a pharmacy or LGBTQ+ health center near you. And if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, don’t brush them off. You’re not “being dramatic.” You’re being smart.
Early action saves lives. Don’t let silence be your story.
“I Thought It Was Nothing”, The Shame That Delays Diagnosis
Marco, 36, is a gay man who had never been told that HPV was even something he needed to worry about. “I knew about HIV; I knew about STIs,” he said. “But no one ever said anything about getting cancer from giving head.” He found out the hard way, after a persistent cough turned into a tumor near his tonsil.
Marco’s diagnosis was almost identical to Jason’s. Stage 2 oropharyngeal cancer, HPV-positive, likely transmitted through oral sex years earlier. But what hit hardest wasn’t just the diagnosis; it was the shame. The silence. The fact that he’d gone undiagnosed for months because he didn’t think it was serious enough to see a doctor.
“You don’t want to be the guy who goes in and says, ‘I think I got throat cancer from sex,’” Marco admitted. “You just try to tough it out. And it gets worse.”
That’s the danger of HPV in men, it doesn’t just attack your body. It attacks your ability to be taken seriously. Too many men believe they have to downplay their pain, “man up,” or wait until things get unbearable. For queer men, the stigma is doubled. If you’ve ever had a hookup and wondered if you were overthinking that sore throat, you’re not alone.
The Queer Community and HPV: A Hidden Epidemic
Queer men, especially those who engage in oral and anal sex, face a higher risk of HPV-related cancers, but they’re often left out of prevention campaigns. There’s no routine screening for throat or anal HPV in men, even though rates of anal cancer are also climbing in gay and bi populations.
Vaccination rates remain lower in LGBTQ+ groups, especially among older adults who were never offered the shot in adolescence. And while some community health clinics do provide education, many queer people report feeling judged, dismissed, or uninformed during STD conversations with providers.
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Not All HPV Strains Are the Same, But Some Are Deadly
There are over 100 known strains of HPV, and while most are harmless or cause minor issues like genital warts, a select few are classified as high-risk. These are the ones tied to cancer, especially HPV-16 and HPV-18. Both have been found in the majority of HPV-positive throat cancers, and they can linger in the body undetected for years.
Here’s where it gets tricky: you can’t tell what strain you have. There's no “HPV type test” for men unless you're already undergoing cancer diagnostics. That means most people never know if they’re carrying a low-risk wart-causing strain, or a high-risk one silently damaging cells in the throat or genitals.
Vaccines like Gardasil 9 are designed to protect against the most dangerous strains. If you're under 45 and haven’t been vaccinated, it’s not too late to ask about it. And if you’re over 45? You can still advocate for screening and stay alert to any changes in your body.
After the Diagnosis: Radiation, Regret, and Recovery
Jason's treatment plan was brutal, weeks of chemotherapy and radiation to his head and neck. He lost weight. His saliva production tanked. He couldn’t eat solid food for months. “They burned the cancer out of me,” he said. “But I’ll never be the same.”
HPV-related throat cancer can be highly treatable, especially when caught early. But treatment comes with a steep cost. Swallowing, speaking, and eating are often impacted. Long-term effects can include dry mouth, taste changes, dental issues, and emotional trauma. Many survivors describe it as a cure with a cost.
Recovery isn’t just physical. It’s emotional. Jason struggled with intimacy and self-image. He worried about dating, about disclosure, about ever feeling normal again. “I didn’t just lose my voice,” he said. “I lost the ability to pretend I was invincible.”
Can You Give HPV to a Partner Without Knowing?
Yes, and most people do. Because HPV is so common and often silent, it spreads easily between partners who don’t realize they’re infected. You don’t need symptoms. You don’t need visible warts. You don’t even need penetration. Oral, anal, and genital contact can all transmit the virus.
If you’re dating, hooking up, or in a long-term relationship, these are real questions:
- Do I tell my partner if I’ve had HPV? That’s up to you, but honesty builds trust, and your partner may benefit from vaccination or screenings.
- Can we still have oral sex? Most couples do. Condoms and dental dams reduce risk but don’t eliminate it.
- What if I’ve been vaccinated, but they haven’t? The vaccine protects against key strains, but not all. Communication and symptom awareness still matter.
You don’t have to panic. You just have to get informed. HPV doesn’t make you dirty or dangerous, it makes you human.
Overwhelmed? Here's What to Do Right Now
If you’re feeling freaked out reading this, take a breath. HPV is incredibly common, and most people clear it on their own. But if this story hit a nerve, if you’ve had symptoms, worries, or just haven’t been to a doctor in years, here’s where to start:
- Check your vaccine status. If you're under 45, you may still be eligible for Gardasil 9.
- Get screened for other STDs. Use an at-home combo test to rule out common infections.
- Book a primary care or ENT appointment if you’ve had throat symptoms that won’t go away.
- Talk to your partner(s) about your shared risk and prevention plans.
You don’t need to do everything today. But taking one step, getting tested, asking about the vaccine, or checking in with a doctor, can move you out of fear and into clarity. HPV is real. But so is your power to protect yourself.
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FAQs
1. Can men get HPV from oral sex?
Yes. HPV can be transmitted through oral-genital or oral-anal contact, even if your partner has no visible symptoms.
2. Is there an HPV test for men?
No, there is currently no FDA-approved HPV screening for men. That’s why awareness and prevention, especially vaccination, are key.
3. What are the symptoms of HPV-related throat cancer?
Persistent sore throat, hoarseness, a lump in the neck, ear pain, or difficulty swallowing are all possible signs. Many men experience no early symptoms.
4. How long can you have HPV before it causes cancer?
HPV can remain dormant for years or even decades before triggering abnormal cell changes or cancer.
5. Does the HPV vaccine help prevent throat cancer?
Yes. The vaccine protects against high-risk HPV strains known to cause oropharyngeal cancers, especially when given before exposure.
6. Can gay men get HPV-related cancers?
Absolutely. Gay and bisexual men are at increased risk for both throat and anal cancers caused by HPV.
7. Is HPV common in men?
Very. It’s estimated that over 70% of sexually active men will get HPV at some point, even without symptoms.
8. Can HPV go away on its own?
Often, yes. Most HPV infections resolve within 1–2 years. But high-risk strains can linger and lead to cancer if undetected.
9. Why isn’t HPV testing part of regular STD panels?
Because there’s no reliable test for HPV in men, and many infections clear on their own. This makes it difficult to include in routine screening.
10. Should adult men still get vaccinated?
Yes, men up to age 45 may still benefit from the vaccine, especially if they haven’t been exposed to all HPV strains. Talk to a provider.
This Isn’t Just a Women’s Issue, It’s Your Life
HPV doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care about gender, sexual orientation, or how “healthy” you are. Jason and Marco weren’t reckless. They weren’t uninformed. They were just normal men who didn’t get told the full story about a virus that affects nearly everyone, and almost ended everything for them.
If you’ve had oral sex, you’ve been exposed. If you’ve never been vaccinated, it’s worth looking into. And if something feels off, your voice, your throat, your energy, don’t ignore it.
Sources
3. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
