A recent op-ed points to oral sex as the leading risk factor for throat cancer. His op-ed published in The Conversation in April. The infection can cause oropharyngeal cancer, and cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, and anus. Though the overall risk of oropharyngeal cancer is quite low—men have a lifetime risk of 0. In his op-ed, Mehanna cited results from a study that found that people with six or more oral-sex partners are 8.
For a study published in the journal Cancer , researchers compared people with and without oropharyngeal cancer. They found that having a history of five or more lifetime oral sex partners increased the odds of developing oropharyngeal cancer by 2.
A history of 10 or more lifetime oral sex partners increased the odds 4. Most people who contract the infection clear it within a few years, said Dr. However, it can spark a process that leads to the development of cancer in some people. This explains in part why oropharyngeal cancer is rising among older people. Not performing oral sex is one way to prevent cancer-causing HPV. Another effective way to reduce your chance of developing cancer is to get the HPV vaccine.
Most people are eligible when they turn 9. Although the vaccine has mostly been advertised as a way to lower the risk of cervical cancer, it can also protect against throat cancer. This includes HPV16, the subtype that accounts for a vast majority of cases. You can also prevent throat cancer by making healthy choices, said Dr.
In addition to HPV—and engaging in oral sex by association—other risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer include alcohol use, a history of smoking, excess body weight, and poor nutrition. American Cancer Society. Risk factors for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. Risk of developing HPV-related throat cancer low.
