What is Laryngeal papilloma?
Laryngeal papilloma is a benign (non-cancerous) growth which can develop on the vocal cords. This may obstruct the airway, alter your voice quality, and sometimes require surgical removal.
How might oral sex relate to laryngeal papilloma?
It is thought that the human papilloma virus (HPV) is associated with laryngeal papilloma.
According to the NHS, you can contract HPV from sharing sex toys, oral, anal or vaginal sex.
Of these sexual activities, laryngeal papilloma is most likely to arise from oral sex.
What may help to avoid a laryngeal papilloma?
Using a condom or a dental dam during oral sex may help.
What exactly can happen to my voice with a laryngeal papilloma?
Your voice may sound strained and/or breathy, due to using compensatory techniques, such as employing different muscles in your throat (the ventricular cords) to produce voice.
You may also have scarring from removal of the papilloma, which can stiffen the vocal cords, and impact on the flexibility; making it difficult for you to alter your voice pitch and volume.
Papilomas are likely to re-occur; making voice recovery challenging, and sometimes, therapy is focused on the use of appropriate techniques and strategies to produce a functional voice for your individual needs.
Prior to and after surgery, practice voice rest and appropriate vocal hygiene, i.e keeping hydrated and avoiding throat clearing.
See my BLOG on STOP Excessively Clearing your THROAT and do this INSTEAD for alternatives to throat clearing,
A post on vocal hygiene will follow soon.
Leeanne Mark
Speech and Language therapist
L A Mark Speech Therapy
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