Doctors warn oral sex is possibly linked to throat cancer
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Doctor Warns That Oral Sex Is Causing An Epidemic Of Throat Cancer

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Doctors say oral sex is a factor in the rise of throat cancer, which they label an epidemic in the United States.

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University of Birmingham professor Hisham Mehanna says the human papillomavirus is the cause of the rise in cases of throat cancer. “For oropharyngeal cancer, the main risk factor is the number of lifetime sexual partners, especially oral sex,” he explained in an essay for the Conversation. Another report by the CDC estimated that HPV infections in the United States cause 70 percent of oropharyngeal cancers.

“HPV is sexually transmitted. For oropharyngeal cancer, the main risk factor is the number of lifetime sexual partners, especially oral sex. Those with six or more lifetime oral-sex partners are 8.5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer than those who do not practice oral sex.”

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The CDC said HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, affecting about 42 million people in the United States alone. HPV (human papillomavirus) is strongly linked to throat cancer, particularly in the oropharynx, encompassing the back of the throat, base of the tongue, and tonsils. Further research says HPV is causing an increase in the number of occurrences of throat cancer.

HPV16 and HPV18 are the most usually associated with throat cancer. These viral strains have also been linked to cervical cancer in women. It is crucial to highlight that not everyone infected with HPV develops throat cancer. Those with HPV who engage in specific habits, such as smoking or excessive drinking, may be at a higher risk of developing throat cancer.

Mehanna added in his report that oral sex is very common in other countries after conducting a study involving 1,000 participants having a tonsillectomy for non-cancer reasons. However, the number of those developing throat cancer has remained small, and he says the reason is very unclear. 

“The prevailing theory is that most of us catch HPV infections and are able to clear them completely. However, a small number of people are not able to get rid of the infection, maybe due to a defect in a particular aspect of their immune system. In those patients, the virus is able to replicate continuously, and over time integrates at random positions into the host’s DNA, some of which can cause the host cells to become cancerous.”

 

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