Van Vien said she had heard that genital warts are sexually transmitted but misunderstood that deep kissing or oral sex would not spread the disease. One month after sexual contact, Vien developed a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and observed several small, pale pink, irregularly shaped bumps on the base of her tongue. During her medical examination, Vien was confused when the doctor diagnosed her with genital warts on the base of her tongue.

"I did not see any symptoms on my anal or penile skin. I also used condoms, so why did I get the disease?" Vien questioned. The doctor explained that genital warts can appear not only in the genital area but also in other locations like the tongue, eyes, lips, throat, forehead, and head. On the tongue, the disease can be transmitted through oral sex, via hands (touching a wart then touching the tongue), through damaged skin coming into contact with the pathogen, or by sharing items like toothbrushes or lipsticks contaminated with the pathogen. Since the warts were small, Vien was treated with antibiotics, advised to maintain good oral hygiene, and abstain from sexual activity.

Genital warts can appear on the tongue or other skin areas that come into contact with the pathogen. *Illustration: Vecteezy*

Similarly, Cam Phi (25, TP HCM) discovered she had genital warts in the middle of her tongue after having sexual intercourse with her boyfriend three times five months ago. When she learned her boyfriend had genital warts, she underwent a gynecological examination and vaginal fluid test, feeling reassured by the normal results.

Recently, while eating spicy hotpot with friends, she felt a burning sensation and pain in the middle of her tongue. Looking in the mirror, she saw a reddish-white bump that hurt when touched. Initially, Phi thought it was a canker sore, believing it would resolve by drinking more water, eating cooling foods, more green vegetables, and applying medication. She only sought medical attention when the bump grew larger, bled, and her mouth developed a foul odor. The doctor recommended cauterizing the wart, combined with antibiotics, thorough oral hygiene, avoiding spicy foods, abstaining from alcohol, refraining from sexual activity, and not sharing personal items. Cam Phi's fear was that the disease would recur and potentially progress to cancer.

According to Dr. Tong Thi Ngoc Cam, First-Degree Specialist, Deputy Medical Director for the North, VNVC Vaccination System, genital warts are caused by HPV types 6 and 11. They are easily transmitted through sexual contact, skin-to-skin contact, and less commonly from mother to child or by sharing personal items. The disease is seeing an increase in cases. In 2025, TP HCM recorded 36,720 cases, rising to 38,000 cases in the first five months of 2026.

Genital warts can grow anywhere on the skin that comes into contact with the pathogen. On the tongue, they commonly appear on the tip, body, and base. In stage one, symptoms include tiny, sparse, scattered bumps throughout the oral cavity, resembling canker sores. This often leads to self-neglect, no treatment, or incorrect treatment. In stage two and three, the warts become raised on the tongue, appearing pale pink like the tongue itself or white like cauliflower. They can cause bleeding and a burning sensation during eating or strong friction. Untreated or delayed treatment increases the risk of bleeding, infection, and sepsis. Warts on the tongue can also spread to other areas around the mouth or other body parts.

Patients should adhere to their doctor's treatment plan, attend follow-up appointments, and avoid spreading the pathogen. Additionally, patients should maintain a nutritious diet, get sufficient sleep, consume plenty of green vegetables and fruits, and drink enough water to ensure the body receives adequate nutrients and boosts immunity to help eliminate the virus.

A 43-year-old female client receives the Gardasil 9 HPV vaccine at VNVC Thu Duc for disease prevention. *Photo: Dieu Thuan*

Genital warts can be prevented with the HPV vaccine. Vaccination helps reduce the risk of reinfection and protects against HPV types not yet contracted. The HPV virus has over 200 types, with about 40 types easily transmitted through sexual contact or skin-to-skin contact.

Currently, Vietnam offers two types of HPV vaccines, including the Gardasil 9 vaccine, which protects against types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. Beyond genital warts, the vaccine also helps prevent several HPV-related cancers, such as cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. Individuals who have already contracted the disease or been infected with one HPV type can still get vaccinated to reduce the risk of infection from other virus types. The vaccine is administered to both males and females aged 9 to under 46 years old.

Dieu Minh