News that oral sex can cause mouth cancer shocked the actress and presenter Tata Werneck and caused quite a stir on social media. The topic came to light following a study published in the academic journal “The Conversation” about the disease’s relationship with the sexual practice.
The oncologist Luiz Henrique Araújo, regional director of Dasa Oncologia in Rio de Janeiro, explains that cancer in the tonsils and at the base of the tongue are the main types that affect the oropharynx (behind the throat). Habits such as smoking and alcoholism are among the risk factors, however, the increasing emphasis has been the tumor’s relationship with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
“Fortunately, these oropharyngeal tumors related to HPV have a better prognosis, a much greater chance of cure, than oropharyngeal cancer not related to HPV”, points out the doctor.
HPV is a common concern among women, as it can trigger cervical cancer, the third most prevalent type in the female population, according to the Ministry of Health. However, the disease’s relationship with oral sex has another epidemiological characteristic: it predominantly occurs in men in their forties and fifties, non-smokers and white.
Paying attention to symptoms is essential. In the case of mouth cancer related to oral sex, the presence of lymph nodes in the neck is common, which may precede the emergence of lesions in the throat, nodules and persistent sores in the region. “These infections are usually chronic and old. The virus stays in the crypts at the base of the tongue and the tonsils and, at a certain point, immunity no longer controls it and can lead to the emergence of a cancer”, points out the doctor.
“HPV vaccination in boys and girls is an important component in the prevention of cervical, oropharyngeal, penile, and anal canal cancers, all of which are related to HPV. The vaccine prevents all these forms of cancer, but does not contraindicate that women continue to have regular gynecological examinations [such as the Pap smear] and that boys become aware and conscious of the disease and its symptoms”, emphasizes the oncologist.
Other dangers of oral sex to health
In addition to HPV, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) can also be risk factors during sexual relations, including oral sex. For this, intimate contact with someone infected is enough. Therefore, the use of a condom is indispensable in any practice.
Rodrigo Juliano Molina, infectious disease doctor, professor of infectious disease at the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) and consultant for the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (SBI), lists the main STIs that can be transmitted during oral sex; they are:
When noticing any symptoms in yourself or your partner, it is essential to consult a doctor for an individual assessment. Only a professional can prescribe the best treatment, according to the patient’s specificities.
