Experts warn that oral sex is fueling a throat cancer “epidemic” in the UK and US, now more common than cervical cancer.
Dr. Hisham Mehanna from the University of Birmingham links oropharyngeal cancer to human papillomavirus (HPV), stating its rapid rise over the past 20 years.
HPV, a group of over 100 viruses, often causes no harm but can lead to genital warts or cancer, according to the NHS. Mehanna highlights that having six or more oral sex partners significantly increases the risk of developing oropharyngeal cancer.
Some individuals struggle to clear HPV infections naturally due to weak immune systems. In such cases, the virus integrates into the host’s DNA, potentially causing cancer, Mehanna explains.
