Oral Sex and Cancer

ORAL SEX AND CANCER

Many people recourse to having oral sex instead of conventional sex to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, ignorantly thinking that oral sex is safer than ordinary sex. But today, we know better with scientific researched and technology that oral sex and cancer are definitely linked.

Health and dental experts warned that oral sex with a partner infected with genital wart can increase the risk of cancer-even much more than alcohol and tobacco – meaning that the situation is more serious.

Genital wart is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease caused by some sub-types of human papilloma virus (HPV). It is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner.

You most likely do not require a description of what oral sex is, but you may not know what HPV is. HPV means Human Papilloma Virus - the leading cause of cervical cancer today. This same virus can also cause oral cancer, and it is transmitted through oral sex.

As part of the year’s celebration of National Cancer Consciousness Week, a combined scientific conference of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) tackled a research work linking a virus that causes genital warts to oral cancer.

Individuals who have had more than five or six oral sex partners were 9 to 10 times more likely to accumulate cancer of the tonsils, tongue or throat, as told by PMA, referring to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This was also determined in a study conducted at the Ohio State University from 1974 to 2007 – a 33 year study.

The Philippine Medical Association stated studies showing that the human papilloma virus, mainly responsible for cervical cancer among women can also cause oral cancer in both men and women engaged in unsafe oral sex.

The institution further discourage that many young Filipinos were vulnerable to oral cancers, “many youngsters of today are more exploitative and adventurous.”

The Philippine Population Institute stated that at least 4.23 million Filipinos aged 15 to 24 were sexually active and out of this number more than 20% use protection such as condoms.

“The popular practice of unprotected oral sex can lead to various infections of the oral cavity. Recurrent infections of the mouth can result in the formation of oral cancers” the PMA quoted Movement for Early Detection of Cancer convener Dr. Vic Chua. He also noted that aside from HPV, other sexually transmitted infections - such as herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea contracted through oral sex can also lead to mouth cancers.

A study conducted by the PDA’s Manila Dental Chapter showed a 15% widespread of oral wounds among residence. The least 1.5% was in the pre-cancer and cancer stage. Any wound of the mouth must be taken seriously, not all develop in to cancer but malignancy must always be noted as an imminent possibility. A regular checkup with a dentist will help early signs or malignancies in the mouth, as per advice by Dr. Anne Camus, president of the PDA’s Manila dental chapter.

Dr. Oscar Tinio, president of PMA said the joint meeting that tackled such health issues was part of the institution’s nationwide campaign against non-communicable disease which includes cancer.

“Non-contagious diseases which cause 60% of all disease-related deaths worldwide are life-style driven ailments and cab actually be prevented,” Dr. Tinio stated.

The Philippine Medical Association combined with their health partners would like to make a giant step by multisectoral approach in the information and prevention drive against these frightening diseases.    

Primary Image Source -  Micrograph of a genital wart with the characteristic changes (parakeratosis, koilocytes, papillomatosis). H&E stain.: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Anal_condyloma_%283%29.jpg