2023-04-29 17:08:50
You thought oral sex was safe? Think again ! A recent study shows that this practice is a major risk factor for throat cancer.
The Silent Throat Cancer Epidemic
Since the turn of the 21st century, cases of throat cancer in the West have increased dramatically. This increase is so significant that experts have called this situation a” epidemic “. More specifically, it is cancer of the oropharynx (area of the tonsils and the back of the throat) that worries specialists.
This type of cancer is mainly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus. According to Professor Hisham Mehanna from the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences at the University of Birmingham, people with multiple sexual partners who practice oral sex are more likely to develop this cancer during their lifetime.
Oral sex: a real health risk?
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that individuals who have had six or more sexual partners with whom they have practiced oral sex are 8.5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer than those who have not had oral sex. Moreover, this cancer is now more common than cervical cancer in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Professor Mehanna and his colleagues at the University of Birmingham conducted a study showing that oral sex is very common in some countries. Of almost 1,000 people who had tonsillectomy unrelated to cancer in the UK, 80% of adults said they had had oral sex at some point in their lives.
Vaccination against HPV: a preventive solution
In an article published in The Conversation, Professor Hisham Mehanna explains that HPV vaccination has been implemented in several countries to prevent cervical cancer in young girls. In countries where vaccination coverage reaches 85%, boys are also protected by herd immunity.
However, vaccination does not guarantee individual protection in a context of hyperconnectivity where many sexual contacts can occur between people from countries where vaccination coverage is low.
In India, the government of Narendra Modi announced in February 2023 a plan to administer the HPV vaccine to girls aged 9 to 14 in six states. This first phase of the vaccination campaign is expected to reach 255 million girls in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram, Chhattisgargarh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, according to the Press Trust of India. India’s health ministry plans to procure 160.2 million doses of the vaccine by 2026 and is preparing to launch an international tender.
Take action to limit the risks
Faced with these alarming results, it is essential to raise public awareness of the risks associated with oral sex and to promote vaccination against HPV. Prevention also involves the adoption of safer sex practices, such as the use of condoms or dental dams during oral sex.
Early detection of HPV and related cancers is also crucial to reduce risk. Consult your doctor regularly and inform him of your sexual practices so that he can offer you the appropriate examinations. Together, we can fight this silent epidemic of throat cancer and protect our health.
My name is Martin and I am an editor at 180back.com. As a writer, I cover the latest manga releases and sneaker releases. I also like to share my opinions and my impressions of the works and products that I describe.
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