A just released study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, has added to the slowly accumulating body of evidence demonstrating a link between oral sex and risk of throat cancer.
From the BBC:
HPV infection was found to be a much stronger risk factor than tobacco or alcohol use, the Johns Hopkins University study of 300 people found.The New England Journal of Medicine study said the risk was almost nine times higher for people who reported oral sex with more than six partners.
The study, which researchers point out was small and requires replication, still only demonstrates an association (as opposed to “proving” causality) between HPV, oral sex, and throat cancer.
The researchers interviewed and took blood and saliva samples from 100 men and women who were newly diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer. Questions were asked about sexual practices and family history. As reported in the BBC report, the authors that one strain of HPV was present in the tumors of 72% of cancer patients in the study, and that people who had oral sex with more than six partners over the course of their lifetime were nine times more likely to develop throat cancer. It’s also interesting to note that they did not find an added risk for people with HPV who also smoked or drank alcohol
It’s important to remember that despite this being one of several studies to detect this connection; it remains small and in need of further research.
And for anyone worried about the impact this could have on what might be one of their favorite sexual activities, remember that it’s easy to make oral sex safer, and the fact is that there are other good reasons to do so.
Read more - New England Journal of Medicine: Case–Control Study of Human Papillomavirus and Oropharyngeal Cancer
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