The United States and the United Kingdom are facing a growing issue with throat cancer, with experts suggesting that oral sex is a leading cause of this “epidemic.”
A surgeon from the University of Birmingham in the UK, Dr. Hisham Mehanna, revealed that 70 percent of throat cancer cases are linked to the human papillomavirus, a virus typically harmless but associated with several types of cancer.
Dr. Mehanna noted that individuals with multiple oral sex partners have up to a nine-fold higher risk of developing throat cancer.
While there is a vaccine available for HPV, only 54 percent of Americans have received it, falling short of the 80 percent threshold needed for population protection.
In his article for The Conversation, Dr. Mehanna explained, “Over the past two decades, there has been a rapid increase in throat cancer in the west, to the extent that some have called it an epidemic.”
This increase is largely attributed to the rise in cases of oropharyngeal cancer, which is the most common form of throat cancer.
This type of cancer affects the tonsils and the back of the throat, and HPV infection is considered the primary risk factor.
Dr. Mehanna emphasized, “HPV is sexually transmitted. For oropharyngeal cancer, the main risk factor is the number of lifetime sexual partners, especially oral sex.”
He pointed out that those with six or more lifetime oral sex partners are 8.5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer compared to those who do not engage in oral sex.
In the United States, more than 50,000 cases of oral or oropharyngeal cancer are diagnosed each year, leading to over 10,000 deaths annually.
The incidence of these cancers is rising, with rates increasing by 1.3 percent per year in women and 2.8 percent per year in men, according to the American Cancer Society.
Studies have shown that oral sex is now the biggest risk factor for these cancers, surpassing smoking, alcohol use, and poor diet.
The HPV infection caused by oral sex can affect the back of the throat or the tonsils. While most of these infections clear up on their own, some can persist and lead to cancer.
Researchers at NYU Langone have estimated that 70 percent of throat cancer cases are attributed to HPV infections.
In the UK, head and neck cancers, which include oropharyngeal cancer, result in over 12,000 cases and 4,000 deaths annually.
An assistant scientist at Henry Ford Health Center in Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Eric Boakye, who conducted research on the issue, said, “Over 90 percent of HPV-associated cancers could be prevented with the HPV vaccine, yet vaccine uptake remains sub-optimal.”
He stressed the need for increased public awareness of the link between HPV and cancer, which could help boost vaccine adoption.
HPV, a common sexually transmitted virus, is spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
Although the vaccine for HPV is highly effective, with an 80 percent efficacy rate, its uptake remains low in many areas.
The vaccine is available in most developed countries and is given as a two-dose series to children aged 11 and 12, with a follow-up dose 12 months later.
Those who miss the initial window can receive a three-dose vaccine for individuals aged 15 to 26.
In the US, the HPV vaccine was initially offered only to females but became available to men as well in 2020.
Despite this, a recent survey revealed that awareness of HPV’s connection to cervical cancer is declining, with the proportion of people aware of this link falling by 7 percent since 2014.
Dr. Boakye added, “Research has shown a high degree of public trust in HPV information when received from healthcare providers,” highlighting the importance of healthcare professionals in educating the public about the vaccine.
