The paper, published back in the naughties, found strong evidence linking cunnilingus to the spread of human papillomavirus (HPV) – which may lead to throat cancer in both men and women.
The research identified having multiple oral sex partners as the leading sexual behavior increasing the risk of HPV-related throat cancer, even more than smoking or alcohol use.
Hisham Mehanna, a professor at the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences for the University of Birmingham, explained that oropharyngeal cancer is more common than cervical cancer in both the UK and US.
How oral sex increases throat cancer risk
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HPV transmission:HPV can be transmitted through oral sex, and in a subset of cases, a persistent infection can lead to oropharyngeal cancer.
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Increased partners:Having more oral sex partners increases the likelihood of exposure to HPV. One study found an odds ratio of2.252.25
2.25
for oropharyngeal cancer for those with four or more lifetime oral sex partners, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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Smoking:Smoking can further increase the risk of developing HPV-related throat cancer and may reduce the effectiveness of treatment.
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The role of sexual behavior in head and neck cancerFigure 2. … Oral HPV infection is acquired through sexual contact. Most incident infections are cleared or alternatively may bec…National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)
Risk factors and other considerations
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Gender:Men may be at a higher risk of HPV-related throat cancer than women, possibly due to women’s potential for an immunological response from cervical cancer.
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Age:A younger age at first oral sex has been identified as an additional risk factor.
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Other factors:Having a partner who had an extramarital affair was also linked to an increased risk of HPV-OPC, according to one study.
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Vaccination:HPV vaccines are available and can help prevent infection, though their effectiveness depends on vaccination rates in the community and individual factors.
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Oral sex is now the leading risk factor for throat cancerApr 25, 2023 — In those patients, the virus is able to replicate continuously, and over time integrates at random positions into the …
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Transmission and clearance of human papillomavirus infection in …It was shown that diagnosis and treatment of OPC were associated with significant declines in the frequency of vaginal and oral se…National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)
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TIMING, NUMBER, AND TYPE OF SEXUAL PARTNERS …Results: 163 HPV-OPC cases and 345 controls were included. Lifetime number of oral sex partners was associated with significantly …
What you can do
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Practice safe sex:Consistent and correct use of condoms can reduce, though not completely eliminate, the risk of HPV transmission.
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Limit partners:Reducing the number of lifetime oral sex partners can decrease your risk of HPV exposure.
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Avoid smoking:Quitting smoking is crucial for reducing your risk of throat cancer and improving treatment outcomes if you are diagnosed with an HPV-related cancer.
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Get screened:Discuss your risks with your doctor and talk about when and if you should be screened for oral cancer.
