Health3 min(s) read
Published 11:29 05 Jun 2026 GMT
A doctor has revealed whether oral sex can really cause throat cancer, as actor Michael Douglas claimed.
Douglas has never shied away from coming clean about his health struggles, but the admission over the cause of his stage four throat cancer left many shocked.
The 81-year-old has spoken about his unhealthy past habits, such as substance abuse, smoking, drinking, and a rumored sex habit.
The actor had checked into rehab back in 1992, though rumors suggested that he was also being treated for sex addiction.
But decades on, Douglas may have fed those old suggestions, revealing to The Guardian in 2013 that his stage 4 throat cancer was caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
He stated that this can be contracted through performing oral sex.
When asked if his past use of substances contributed to his condition, the actor explained: “No. No. Ah, without getting too specific, this particular cancer is caused by something called HPV [human papillomavirus], which actually comes about from cunnilingus.”
He went on: “I did worry if the stress caused by my son's incarceration didn't help trigger it. But yeah, it’s a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer. And if you have it, cunnilingus is also the best cure for it.”
Douglas has been cancer-free since 2011.
Cleveland Clinic states that HPV is the single most common sexually transmitted infection in the US, while having links to cervical cancer.
But while the virus can cause cancers of the throat, if scientific research is to be believed, there have been doubts from the public about Douglas' claims.
Now, a doctor has explained how accurate his explanation was.
The CDC says that around 13 million new cases of HPV are found each year, but Dr. Sujatha Reddy addressed its link to throat cancer.
Speaking on a CNN news segment from 2013, she said that it's "absolutely true" that HPV can lead to throat cancer.
"Among some of the cancers that HPV causes by damaging the cells, one is definitely throat cancer," she stated.
The news reporter asked if this was fact or myth: "The only way you can get throat cancer is by HPV."
The medical expert replied: "That is a myth. We've known for a long time that smoking and excessive drinking are risk factors for throat cancer, or what we're really talking about is tonsil and base of the tongue cancer in his case.
"Those definitely can be caused by smoking and excessive drinking, and/or HPV."
When asked if only women could transmit HPV, she said: "That's absolutely a myth. We have seen heterosexual as well as homosexual transmission of HPV, so men can transmit it and women can transmit it.
"Women are more frequently tested for it because of things like cervical cancer and the pap smear, but transmission occurs through both sexes."
She then explained that the majority of adults will have HPV at "some point in their life," but assured: "The good news is it doesn't hurt most people.
Most people's immune system will clear it or eliminate it, kind of make it dormant in their body."
