What Is the Relationship Between Oral Sex and Throat Cancer?
Throat cancer is one of the most common cancers, but it has a high probability of being cured if detected early. Habits like smoking and drinking are frequently the main causes of throat cancer, but this disease has recently started to be associated with oral sex. But exactly how does this affect it? OneHowTo.com will explain to you the relationship between oral sex and throat cancer.
Steps to follow:
The relationship between oral sex and the possibility of suffering from throat cancer lies in the exposure to STD infections through the exchange of fluids such as saliva and intimate secretions, particularly HPV or human papillomavirus.
Of the more than 100 strains of HPV know of today, about 40 were transmitted through sex, not only through penetration but also through oral sex.
Although HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, only a small percentage of patients who suffer from it eventually develop cancer in areas such as the cervix, anus or penis. The number of people suffering from throat cancer due to HPV infection through oral sex is even smaller. Actually it's not known how common HPV infection in the mouth is. A study concluded that the risk factors for oral HPV were:
- Age: men and women between 30-34 and 60-64 years old were more prone to develop throat cancer.
- Number of sexual partners: 20% of people with more than 20 partners had HPV infection.
- Number of cigarettes smoked a day.
If you currently suffer from throat cancer, you can determine whether it is caused by an HPV infection or another much more common cause.
The only way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases such as HPV is to correctly use condoms, even during oral sex. Condoms are the best way to prevent the spread of STDs through the exchange of fluids, making them the most effective prevention method during oral sex.
Although oral sex without protection could be one of the leading causes of developing throat cancer, there is no reason to panic as you might think.
Recent studies have shown that a small number of people with throat cancer have been infected through oral sex. Although it is not the most common way to catch the disease, that being smoking and alcohol which are responsible for 80% or 90% of cases, it is important to raise awareness about condom use to prevent sexually transmitted diseases that can lead to future complications.
If you want to read similar articles to What Is the Relationship Between Oral Sex and Throat Cancer?, we recommend you visit our Sentimental relationships category.
