Oral sex is a commonly performed act of foreplay involving the kissing or licking of the genital area to pleasure a partner.
HPV can spread during oral sex, increasing the possibility of cancer In the United States, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus. Risks associated with sexual health range widely.
However, worrying about potential health issues can reduce intimacy and, ultimately, the quality of life between partners. When it comes to safeguarding against issues with sexual health doctors always advise caution.
Fast facts on oral sex and throat cancer
- Although oral sex can spread HPV, it does not directly cause throat cancer.
- HPV can alter cells before they become cancerous, which could eventually lead to throat cancer.
- Smoking and liquor utilization further increment the gamble that an HPV disease will become carcinogenic.
- Mouth sores and ulcers that do not heal, swelling or lumps, and discolored tissues are all symptoms of the early stages of oral cancer.
Is Oral Sex Safe
Oral sex involves using the mouth to stimulate the genitals or genital area of a partner.
This type of sex can spread sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as:
- gonorrhea
- genital herpes
- syphilis
- chlamydia
- HPV
HPV And Cancer
Oral cancer is not directly caused by the HPV infection. The infection triggers changes in the contaminated cells. The infection’s hereditary material turns out to be important for disease cells, making them develop.
In the United States, HPV is responsible for 70% of throat or oropharyngeal cancers. These cancers typically develop in the tonsils or the back of the tongue.
Most HPV infections go away in two years, according to trusted sources. Because smoking damages the skin’s immune cells, smokers have a lower chance of clearing an HPV infection. Usually, this help prevents damage caused by viruses.
HPV types
Some low-riskTrusted Source kinds of HPV can cause the development of moles in the mouth and throat. Typically, these growths are benign.
However, severe airway obstruction and complications may result. In very uncommon cases, these moles become harmful.
High riskTrusted Source If the immune system does not get rid of the infection, HPV can lead to multiple types of cancer.
Risk factors For Throat Cancer
- Smoking: Tobacco smoking is the most important risk factor for all cancers of the head and neck, including throat cancer. Regular, long-term, heavy smokers are more likely to develop a type of throat cancer than non-smokers.
- Exposure to dangerous substances: Prolonged exposure to the following can also increase the risks:
- paint fumes
- wood dust and shavings
- Alcohol: The heavy, ongoing consumption of alcoholic drinks also raises the risk of developing throat cancer. Ethanol is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks.
Symptoms Of HPV
The symptoms of HPV are often “silent,” and people will usually not know they have the virus.
However, the condition may be advancing to an early stage of oral cancer when the following signs start to occur:
- a mouth sore or ulcer occurs that does not heal within 3 weeks
- soft tissues of the mouth becoming discolored
- pain while swallowing and a feeling as if food sticks in the throat
- swelling with no pain in the tonsils
- pain while chewing