Medical experts are raising alarms after new data revealed that **oral sex has become one of the leading causes of throat cancer worldwide**. According to a recent study cited by The Guardian’s health reporting, cases of oropharyngeal cancer — a type of throat cancer — are now rising faster than almost any other form of the disease, with researchers pointing directly to the spread of **human papillomavirus (HPV)** through oral sexual activity as the primary driver.
Once considered rare, oropharyngeal cancer has surged in incidence across the United States, United Kingdom, and other Western countries. CNN noted that in the U.S., it has now overtaken cervical cancer as the most common HPV-related cancer. Doctors emphasize that while smoking and drinking remain risk factors, the dramatic rise is being fueled by HPV infections contracted orally during sex.
Doctors say oral sex is now the leading cause of throat cancer, with HPV driving a surge in cases. — @CNN
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world, with more than 100 known strains. While most clear up naturally, high-risk strains such as **HPV-16** can linger and cause cellular changes that eventually lead to cancer. WebMD explained that cancers linked to HPV often appear at the base of the tongue, tonsils, or throat — areas that are difficult to detect early, making them especially dangerous.
Professor Hisham Mehanna, a leading head and neck surgeon in the UK, told The Independent that people with multiple oral sex partners face a significantly higher risk. Studies suggest that individuals who have had more than six oral sex partners are up to eight times more likely to develop throat cancer compared to those who have never engaged in the practice. This has led to growing concern among oncologists about how little the public understands these risks.
“The single biggest risk factor for throat cancer today isn’t smoking — it’s HPV from oral sex.” — Prof. Hisham Mehanna
Public health experts are now urging vaccination as a critical preventive step. The HPV vaccine, originally rolled out to protect young women from cervical cancer, is equally effective at preventing throat cancers caused by the virus. BBC News stressed that both boys and girls should receive the vaccine in adolescence, before becoming sexually active, to maximize protection.
The cultural shift in sexual behavior is also being examined as a factor. The New York Times reported that oral sex has become more widely practiced and socially normalized in recent decades, which may explain why throat cancer incidence has exploded among middle-aged men in particular. Doctors are now pushing for more frank conversations about sexual health and cancer prevention, topics that remain stigmatized in many communities.
Survivors of HPV-related throat cancer have also spoken out. In interviews compiled by NBC News, patients described the shock of being diagnosed with an illness they had never even realized could be sexually transmitted. Many stressed the need for better awareness campaigns, particularly targeting men, who are disproportionately affected by HPV-driven throat cancers.
HPV-related throat cancer cases are skyrocketing among middle-aged men. Experts urge vaccination and awareness. — @NBCNews
Despite the grim statistics, doctors emphasize that prevention is possible. Safe sexual practices, regular screenings, and vaccination can dramatically reduce the risk. The challenge now is breaking through cultural taboos to ensure that people understand oral sex carries real health risks — and that action can be taken to prevent devastating outcomes.
