A recent study has revealed that oral sex is now the primary cause of throat cancer, surpassing smoking, alcohol, and poor diet as the biggest risk factor, particularly due to the human papillomavirus (HPV).
According to Dr. Hisham Mehanna from the University of Birmingham, there’s been a sharp rise in oropharyngeal cancer over the last 20 years. This specific cancer affects the tonsils and the back of the throat and is strongly linked to HPV, the same virus responsible for most cervical cancer cases.
“HPV infection is incredibly common,” Dr. Mehanna explains in The Conversation. “While the majority of people clear the virus without issue, a small number can’t, which allows the virus to linger and potentially trigger cancer over time by altering the host’s DNA.”
One of the most concerning findings? The number of lifetime oral sex partners directly impacts the risk. Those who’ve had six or more oral sex partners are 8.5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer than those who haven’t.
Dr. Mehanna describes this surge as an “epidemic” in Western countries. In fact, in both the US and UK, throat cancer caused by HPV has now become more common than cervical cancer.
HPV is a group of over 100 viruses that typically cause no symptoms. However, certain strains can lead to genital warts or cancer. The NHS notes that while around 80 percent of adults will engage in oral sex during their lifetime, only a small percentage will actually develop oropharyngeal cancer.
Still, the data is striking: approximately 8,300 people in the UK are diagnosed with throat cancer each year. The majority of cases occur in people over 55, but about 12.5 percent are diagnosed in those under 50.
Experts stress that while the overall risk remains relatively low, awareness and prevention, such as HPV vaccination, are key.
