Mouth and Throat Cancer’s Link to Oral Sex

Cleveland Clinic  You likely think of cervical cancer when you hear about the rising incidence of human papilloma virus (HPV). So you might be surprised to learn that this sexually-transmitted virus is also a leading cause of throat cancer (oropharyngeal cancer), and it spreads from person to person via oral sex.

Though oral cancers have long been linked to smoking, head and neck surgeon Brandon Prendes, MD, says current research shows that HPV is directly related to some throat cancers. In fact, these cancers are on the rise, and soon will outpace new cervical cancer cases, he says.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, there are 9,000 new cases of throat cancer diagnosed annually that are potentially related to HPV. Approximately 7 percent of adults have oral HPV, but only about 1 percent have the particular type associated with throat cancer: HPV 16. 

Oral sex can cause mouth and throat cancer: study

HPV16 or 18 triggers most cervical cancer while HPV16 most throat cancer. It is transmitted to the mouth and throat mostly by performing oral sex and appears to cause about 70 percent of oropharyngeal cancers.