The Connection Between Oral Sex and Cancer

On the face of it, oral sex and cancer are two completely disparate factors that have no correlation between them. However for some years now, a relation has been seen to exist between cancer risk and oral sex and recent research seems to confirm this.

Connection Between Oral Sex and CancerA Swedish study dating back to 2005 had found that one who performed oral sex on a person who had the HPV (human Papilloma virus) infection had an increased risk of contracting oral cancer.

A later study has also indicated that risk of head and neck cancer increases among those that engage in oral sex.

Theorists believe that the transmission of the HPV is what is responsible for this increased cancer risk, given the connection that it has with cancer, and in particular cervical cancer.

Multiple studies have detected that the HPV virus is also implicated in many incidences of throat cancer.

Sexually transmitted HPV infections are the leading cause of cervical cancer and are responsible for other cancers such as cancer of the vagina, anus, penis and the mouth.

A very recent study also reinforces this correlation between HPV and cancer, in fact it is claimed that oral cancer from the HPV infection is more common than oral cancer occurring as a result of tobacco use.

A direct link is found between the number of oral sex partners and cancer risk.

Maura Gillison of Ohio State University claims that those who have performed oral sex on six or more partners have an eight times higher risk of getting HPV-related head or neck cancer than those with fewer than six partners.

The ways and means to prevent this transmission of the HPV virus, by way of a barrier such as a dental dam or condom, or by way of a vaccine are being explored.