Surgeon reveals the deadly disease he says could arise from oral sex

A surgeon has revealed the dangers that could arise from oral sex, including one deadly disease.

Oral sex is something that is largely accepted in today's world, with many people engaging in the activity.

As with all sexual activity, oral sex should be practiced safely. Credit: Oleksandr Sharkov / Getty

Although some perceive it as a safer alternative to unprotected sex, some dangers come with it.

Approximately 18,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with oropharyngeal cancer, a form of head and neck cancer that is increasingly linked to human papillomavirus (HPV), according to medical experts at Yale Medicine.

While this type of cancer historically affected older adults, more cases are emerging in younger generations, with one UK-based surgeon pointing to a specific cause.

“Oropharyngeal cancer is sexually transmitted. For oropharyngeal cancer, the main risk factor is the number of lifetime sexual partners, especially oral sex,” said Dr. Hisham Mehanna, a professor at the University of Birmingham, UK, in a piece published on The Conversation.

“Those with six or more lifetime oral sex partners are 8.5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer than those who do not practice oral sex,” Mehanna added.

Oropharyngeal cancer affects the middle section of the throat, including the soft palate, tonsils, and the back of the tongue.

Common symptoms include persistent sore throat, difficulty swallowing, ear pain, unexplained weight loss, lumps in the mouth, throat, or neck, and a persistent white patch in the mouth.

Treatment options include radiation, chemotherapy, a combination of both, or surgery to remove the tumor.

Oral sex could lead to serious health issues. Credit: PeopleImages/Getty

While oropharyngeal cancer linked to HPV often has a better prognosis than cases associated with heavy smoking or alcohol use, survival rates remain a concern.

About 70% of patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer survive five years or longer after diagnosis.

HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US, is known to cause genital warts, cervical cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer.

Over 42 million Americans carry a strain of the virus capable of causing disease, and more than 13 million new infections are reported each year, per the New York Post.

“The prevailing theory is that most of us catch HPV infections and are able to clear them completely. However, a small number of people are not able to get rid of the infection, maybe due to a defect in a particular aspect of their immune system,” Mehanna explained.

“In those patients, the virus is able to replicate continuously, and over time integrates at random positions into the host’s DNA, some of which can cause the host cells to become cancerous,” he added.

To reduce the risk of HPV-related cancers, Mehanna and health authorities recommend the HPV vaccine for both girls and boys.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises starting the vaccination series at age 11 or 12, though it can begin as early as age 9.

HPV vaccines can reduce the dangers. Credit: Peter Dazeley/Getty

For those who did not receive the vaccine as adolescents, catch-up vaccinations are recommended up to age 27.

Despite the medical consensus on the vaccine’s effectiveness, Mehanna acknowledged that resistance remains.

“There is a significant proportion of some populations who are opposed to HPV vaccination due to concerns about safety, necessity, or, less commonly, due to concerns about encouraging promiscuity,” he said, adding: “As always when dealing with populations and behavior, nothing is simple or straightforward.”

Featured image credit: Oleksandr Sharkov / Getty