Oral Sex Exposes People to Increased Risk of Throat Cancer

The researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have elucidated the fact that human papillomavirus (HPV) increases the risk for contacting throat cancer in both men and women. They have strong evidences which shows that indulging in oral sex have undesirable effects and can lead to the development of cancer, and having multiple oral sex partners, further complicates the picture.

Study author and cancer virus expert Maura Gillison, M.D., Ph.D., had found out the strong connection between HPV and throat cancer in 2000, but she could not present her findings because she was yet to know which behaviors put the people at higher risk for developing the cancer.

Gillison added that "people should be reassured that oropharyngeal cancer is relatively uncommon, and the overwhelming majority of people with an oral HPV infection probably will not get throat cancer," says Gillison. Consistent condom use may reduce risk.

The research was carried out on 300 subjects, both with and without throat cancer. The samples of blood and saliva of 100 subjects (86 men and 14 women) were examined. Other information of factors like family history, tobacco and alcohol exposure, sex practices, and poor oral hygiene were collected. The answers were compared with those of 200 control subjects with benevolent conditions.

After rigorous research, it was concluded that those infected with the human papillomavirus were 32 times more likely to develop one form of oral cancer than those free of the virus.

The spread of HPV virus has been linked to tobacco smoking and alcohol, but the findings suggest that oral sex increases the chance more than substance abuse.

In the study, it was found out that the participants had more than 6 oral sex partners, and were 8.6 times more likely to develop the HPV-linked cancer. In an astounding twist, Gillison says their data show no additional jeopardy for HPV carriers who smoke and drink alcohol. "It's the virus that drives the cancer," explains Gillison. "Since HPV has already disrupted the cell enough to steer its change to cancer, then tobacco and alcohol use may have no further impact."

Although, the researchers held that fellatio and cunnilingus is the main cause of transmitting HPV virus, they suggested that mouth-to-mouth transmission is also possible, not snubbing this view from their study either.

The new findings have helped the experts to understand why oral cancer has been spreading like fire across the globe, even in tee totallers. It will also help to erase the misconception that oral sex is safe sex, as it was previously held, particularly by the adolescents.

"Many adolescents, and adults too, say they engage in oral sex as a less risky type of sex," said Mark A. Schuster of the Rand Corp. and UCLA, noting that herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections also spread through oral sex. "What this article and others show is you absolutely can get serious sexually transmitted diseases through oral sex."

The findings have further sparked the already ignited debate regarding the use of certain vaccines to shield against HPV. However, the opponents say that the vaccine may boost sexual activity and is too early to say anything about its competence. They hold that the decision should be left to individual parents.

Dr. Gillison and her colleagues focused on a type of tumor called oropharyngeal cancer – cancer of the tonsils and surrounding tissue. They held that although it can be treated with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, it can lead to dry mouths and cause complexity in swallowing and speaking.

The HPV is a DNA-based virus that infects the skin and the mucous membrane. Nearly 100 types of HPV viruses have been identified and characterized.

About 30-40 types of HPV’s are transmitted sexually and has been on an increase due to unhealthy sex practices, frequently changing of sex partners, early indulgence in sex by the teenagers, etc.

The prevalence rates of HPV have been studied extensively. A previous study done way back in 2003-2004 showed that 26.8% of women aged 14 to 59 were infected with at least one strain of HPV (including those that are harmless). The rates have sky-rocketed ever since, and pose a great threat to humans.

In the United States alone, there are about 20 million people who are infected with HPV and it is the most common type of sexually transmitted virus. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the occurrence of HPV infection among females in the United States is as follows:

24.5% prevalence of HPV among females 14 to 19 years old
44.8% prevalence of HPV among females 20 to 24 years old
27.4% prevalence of HPV among females 25 to 29 years old
27.5% prevalence of HPV among females 30 to 39 years old
25.2% prevalence of HPV among females 40 to 49 years old
19.6% prevalence of HPV among females 50 to 59 years old