Experts issue warning after oral sex becomes the leading cause of throat cancer
Topics: Cancer, Sex and Relationships, Health
Ella Scott
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/PeopleImages
Topics: Cancer, Sex and Relationships, Health
Medical professionals have delivered a stark warning about oral sex after throat cancer diagnosis reaches ‘epidemic’ levels.
According to the Mesothelioma Centre, around 54,010 adults in America will be diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancer in their lifetime, with men twice as likely to suffer from the disease as women.
Smoking or being infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) can increase the risk of oropharyngeal cancer, which affects the area of the tonsils and back of the throat, the National Cancer Institute writes.
HPV, a group of over 100 viruses, is considered one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). While some people’s bodies will clear the infection without causing any major issues, others could develop warts and even cancer.
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Dr Hisham Mehanna, from the UK’s University of Birmingham, has explained that the last two decades have seen a rapid rise in throat cancer diagnoses. He remarked that the more oral sex partners you have, the more likely you are to develop oropharyngeal cancer.
"Over the past two decades, there has been a rapid increase in throat cancer in the West, to the extent that some have called it an epidemic," he wrote in The Conversation on April 25.
"The prevailing theory is that most of us catch HPV infections and are able to clear them completely," Mehanna added.
“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.”
The medical professional stated that the number of partners someone has had oral sex with is the ‘main risk factor’ when it comes to developing cancer.
He remarked that those with six or more oral-sex partners in their lifetimes are ‘8.5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer' than those who do not practice oral sex.
As well as oral sex being a significant risk factor, smoking or chewing tobacco and indulging in excessive alcohol use have also been linked to increasing throat cancer rates.
The Mayo Clinic also states that those who suffer from the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), people who have Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and/or have been exposed to toxic substances at work are at high risk of developing throat cancer.
While there is no proven way to prevent throat cancer from occurring, medical experts advise you to drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all, stop smoking, and choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables.
It’s also advised that you protect yourself from HPV. This can be done by limiting the number of sexual partners you have and using a condom every time you have sexual intercourse.
The HPV vaccine, which is said to be more than 80 percent effective, is also widely available.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.