Oral Sex Does Not Cause Throat Cancer But HPV Can – Let’s Get The Facts Straight
To begin, oral sex does not intrinsically and indefinitely cause throat cancer. New research does inform us that the specific oropharyngeal throat cancer is on the rise and that it’s being caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), reports The Conversation.
Oral sex with more than six lifetime partners places certain people at a higher risk of contracting HPV which can cause oropharyngeal cancer. Gay men are traditionally a sexually active bunch, and the fallout of this news quickly made its way through social media, reports Queerty.
Hindsight and proper sexual health information really does wonders on the nerves
It was reported by Queerty that gay men (and sexually active people in general) were in shambles after the report came out. “Oral sex leads to throat cancer? No more oral sex then? If I’ve had more than eight partners am I going to get cancer?” The answer to all those questions is no and the context of the data is being brought to light.
HPV is a sexually transmitted disease and, according to The Conversation, most people are capable of clearing them without medical intervention. However, there are some who may not be able to clear the HPV as easily for a number of reasons and the cells have a chance to replicate turning some host cells cancerous.
The risk factor of contracting oropharyngeal throat cancer becomes 8.5 times more likely for individuals who have had more than six lifetime sexual partners. To prevent cervical cancer, many countries have implemented HPV vaccination for young girls, with increasing evidence suggesting it may also prevent HPV infection in the mouth. However, coverage must be high for it to be effective, and there is no guarantee of protection for individuals, especially in the age of international travel. To combat this, countries such as the UK, Australia, and the US have extended their HPV vaccination policies to include young boys.
Preventable transmission of HPV requires vaccination and practicing safe sex. With better resources around sexual health and HPV, individuals are not at risk of throat cancer by way of oral sex.
