Sex Act That Could Get You Cancer
One of the main risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can infect the mouth and throat. Oral intercourse can raise your risk of getting HPV and oropharyngeal cancer linked to HPV, according to earlier research. Currently, a recent study has found that some oral sex behaviors can more than four times raise your risk of developing cancer.
The study was published online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed publication of the American Cancer Society. Don’t overlook these definite signs that you’ve already had the coronavirus as you read on to protect your health and the health of others.
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Those With More Partners Had a Greater Chance of HPV-Related Cancer
According to the study, which included 163 people with and 345 people without HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, those who had more than 10 previous oral sex partners had a 4.3-times higher risk of developing the disease.
They also discovered that other aspects of oral intercourse affected the risk of cancer. The likelihood of developing HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer increased with oral sex intensity, more partners in a shorter amount of time, older sexual partners while one was young, and partners who engaged in extramarital sex.
According to the study’s lead author Virginia Drake, MD, of Johns Hopkins Hospital Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, “relationship dynamics are independently associated with increased cancer risk; this is likely because these relationship aspects are surrogates of higher likelihood for exposure to HPV.” Health.
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Dr. Drake also reveals another surprising finding of the study—the identification of nine study participants without cancer (controls), who have an antibody that is specific for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer (E6). “While they do not have a diagnosis of cancer, research to date suggests these are markers that may indicate pre-cancer and may be an indicator of increased cancer risk,” she explains.
How to Avoid HPV and HPV-Related Cancers
Preventing an HPV infection in the first place is the greatest strategy to avert oropharyngeal cancer that is HPV-related. “Like with all STDs, exposure to new partners who could possibly be HPV carriers increases the chance of infection. Our research does not directly affect screening or prevention in the clinical setting, but it does assist patients and healthcare professionals in answering the question, “Why did I acquire oropharyngeal cancer?”” As Dr. Drake explains.
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The CDC advises both boys and girls starting at the age of nine to obtain the HPV vaccination, which is one of the strategies to prevent it. Since the vaccination has been used in the United States, the number of HPV infections and cervical precancers (abnormal cells on the cervix that can develop into cancer) has considerably decreased.