Oral sex cancer: What you need to know

Oral sex cancer has been on the rise for the past two decades, according to Dr Hisham Mehanna — a professor at the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences at the University of Birmingham. The situation has worsened, to the extent that the disease has been classified as an “epidemic” in both the U.S. and the U.K.

Oral sex cancer is an oropharyngeal cancer, a type of throat cancer. It is a sexually transmitted disease, although it has long been linked to smoking. According to head and neck surgeon, Brandon Prendes, MD, oral sex cancer will soon outpace the new cervical cancer cases.

So what is oral sex cancer? Does oral sex cause cancer? These questions and more shall be answered when you read this article.

Table of Content hide 1Does oral sex cause cancer? 2How to protect yourself from having oral sex cancer 2.1Use a barrier 2.2Get tested for STDs regularly 2.3Stick to sexual activities that do not spread STD 2.4Maintain good personal hygiene after sex 2.5Avoid abusing drugs and excess drinking 2.6Avoid multiple partners 2.7Abstain from sex 3Oral sex cancer vaccine

Does oral sex cause cancer?

Oral sex means using the mouth to stimulate the genitals or genital area of a partner during sexual intercourse. It is a foreplay that couples use to spice up sex for the ultimate satisfaction. Like every sweet thing, it can have devastating consequences if not done right. According to a publication on Medical News Today, oral sex does not cause cancer, but it can increase the risk of passing on the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV itself can increase the risk of throat cancer.

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Symptoms include the following:

• A mouth sore or ulcer occurs that does not heal within three weeks.
• Discoloured soft tissues of the mouth.
• Pain while swallowing and a feeling of food getting stuck in the throat.
• Swelling with no pain in the tonsils.
• Pain while chewing
• On ongoing sore throat or croaky voice with a persistent cough.
• A feeling of numbness in the mouth and lips.
• Any swelling or lumps in the mouth, including painless lumps on the outside of the neck.
• A one-sided earache that persists for more than several days.

Those who engage in oral sex with multiple partners (six or more) are more likely to contract the disease than those who do not practice oral sex. American Cancer Society says that cases of oropharyngeal cancer linked to HPV increased yearly by 1.3 per cent in women and by 2.8 per cent in men between 2015 and 2019.

According to a publication on The Conversation, most people develop HPV infections but are mercifully able to clear them completely. Only a few people may not be able to clear the infections, which may be due to a defect in a particular aspect of their immune system. This usually means the virus can replicate continuously and, over time, integrates at random positions into the patient’s DNA. Some of the infected cells become cancerous in the patient’s body.

Meanwhile, note that while there is a conclusive report linking oral sex with HPV infections, researchers have not conclusively linked oral sex directly to cancer.

How to protect yourself from having oral sex cancer

The number one people at risk of contracting oral sex cancer are those who engage in oral sex with multiple partners. According to research published on the MOFFIT CANCER CENTER website, 45 per cent of cancer patients had more than 10 sexual partners during their lifetime, compared with about 20 per cent of those without cancer. Those under 23 who had a sexual partner who was at least 10 years older were also more likely to be infected.

In addition, deep kissing lead to an increased risk of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers. The study also found that having a partner who had an extramarital affair increased the risk of developing oropharyngeal cancer by 60 per cent.

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Therefore, there are two ways to avoid contracting oral sex cancer – safe sex practices and vaccines. Let us talk about safe sex practices, which include the following:

Use a barrier

Use a barrier anytime you do anything that can pass sexual fluids. Barriers such as condoms, internal condoms, dental dams, and/or latex or nitrile gloves have been designed to protect you from diseases that you can get from oral, anal, or vaginal sex. You can still enjoy oral sex using dental dams.

Get tested for STDs regularly

Getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) regularly is important if you are sexually active. It does not matter if you use any barriers. None of them is 100 per cent effective. Most people who have STDs do not have symptoms until it is too late. By undergoing regular tests, you can discover any infections and treat them on time.

Stick to sexual activities that do not spread STD

It is called outercourse or mutual masturbation. This means masturbating without touching each other. Outercourse is a great way to safely get sexual pleasure and be intimate with another person.

Maintain good personal hygiene after sex

This includes taking your bath and washing your hands before touching your genitals, mouth, or eyes to avoid passing sexual fluids. In addition, wash your sex toys after using them and change your dental dams or other protective barriers you have used.

Avoid abusing drugs and excess drinking

Alcohol and drug abuse makes you high. When you are high and drunk and engage in sex, you tend to forget to take precautions. This increases your chances of getting STDs that can lead to oral sex cancer. Avoid hard drugs completely and if you must drink, do it responsibly before having sex.

Avoid multiple partners

Sex is sweet and sex addicts will tell you it is sweeter with multiple partners. For the sake of your health, do not have sexual partners. You may be careful about your health but not all partners are that careful. It is better to stick with one person and ensure that both of you are taking precautions.

Abstain from sex

This one is difficult. But the only way to avoid oral sex cancer through HPV is to abstain from sexual activities of any kind, especially for those who are not married.

Oral sex cancer vaccine

According to the American Cancer Society, HPV s a group of more than 150 types of viruses. HPV-16 has been linked to the type that causes oral sex cancer. Only two HPV vaccines are available – Cervarix and Gardasil. They prevent infections with both HPV-16 and HPV-18. 

However, the HPV vaccines were originally developed to prevent cervical and other cancers of the reproductive system. This was until it was discovered that it can prevent oropharyngeal cancers. So only females from 12 to 26 years old are recommended to take it. But it is not recommended for anyone above 26 years old. Adults at age 27 to 45 years who are not already vaccinated may decide to get the HPV vaccine after speaking with their doctor about their risk for new HPV infections. But at this stage, the effect may not be severe, especially if they are already exposed to HPV.

Although women are recommended to take the HPV vaccine, research centres like the US health agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have recommended that the vaccine should be given to boys. Meanwhile, the HPV vaccines only work best when a person takes it before becoming sexually active.

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