Oral sex linked to increased risk of throat cancer – Study

Oral sex has been identified as a major cause of throat cancer, alongside other factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and poor diet.

According to Dr. Hisham Mehanna from the University of Birmingham, there is a link between having multiple oral sex partners and an increased risk of developing throat cancer.

“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,” Dr. Mehanna wrote.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are being linked to the rise of oropharyngeal cancer, which affects the tonsils and the back of the throat, raising concerns about what has been called an “epidemic.”

Dr. Mehanna explained that while most people can clear HPV infections, a small percentage cannot.

“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,” he explained.

Approximately 8,300 people in the UK receive a throat cancer diagnosis each year, making it one out of every 50 malignancies, according to the National Health Service (NHS). Only 12.5% of cases affect those under 50, with the majority occurring in adults over 55.

Doctors emphasize that HPV is spread through oral, anal, and vaginal sex with an infected individual. Vaccinations have been shown to be an effective preventive measure with an efficiency rate of over 80%.

However, HPV vaccination coverage in England is still below ideal levels, with 67.3% of girls and 62.4% of boys having received the recommended two doses by Year 9.

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The post Oral sex linked to increased risk of throat cancer – Study first appeared on 3News.

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