A doctor on TikTok has claimed that oral sex is the most common cause of throat cancer.
Dr. Daria Sadovskaya, 29, from Singapore, posted a video last month about the connection between oral sex with a partner and the potentially life-threatening disease.
Traditionally, tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are considered the two biggest risk factors for the development of throat cancer.
But as one of Dr. Sadovskaya asked her hundreds of thousands of followers: “Are you saying that oral sex is the main cause of throat cancer?” she replied, singing along to the song’s lyrics: “I said what I said.”
Doctors say human papillomavirus (HPV), a family of viruses that infect the genitals and can be transmitted to the throat during oral sex, is increasingly the source of throat cancer.
Men are at greater risk because women are more likely to carry the virus. Michael Douglas famously claimed that HPV was the cause of his throat cancer.
Projected annual number of oropharyngeal cancer cases in the United States. Oropharyngeal cancer can occur on the back one-third of your tongue, the soft palate, the tonsils, and the sides and back of the throat and is often referred to as oropharyngeal cancer.
Doctors have warned that HPV – the world’s most common sexually transmitted disease – is the main risk factor for throat cancer in men and women (Stock)
Oral sex can lead to an HPV infection in the back of the throat or near the tonsils.
HPV is best known for its association with cervical cancer, but is the cause of about one in 20 cancers worldwide, including cancers of the mouth, throat, penis and anus.
These infections go away on their own in most cases, but can sometimes persist and cause throat cancer. This general term refers to cancer that grows in the throat, called pharyngeal cancer, or in the larynx, called laryngeal cancer.
Most throat cancers involve the same cell types, but specific terms are used to categorize the area of the throat where the cancer has developed.
Nasopharyngeal cancer starts in the nasopharynx, the part of your throat just behind your nose.
Oropharyngeal cancer starts in the oropharynx – the part of your throat just behind your mouth, which includes your tonsils.
Hypopharyngeal cancer, also called laryngopharyngeal cancer, starts in the hypopharynx (also called laryngopharynx) – the lower part of your throat, just above your esophagus and windpipe.
In 2023, an estimated 54,540 American adults will be diagnosed with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer, and 11,580 will die from the cancer.
Many Americans are unaware that HPV can cause cancer
A shocking result was revealed in a study by doctors at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, Michigan.
Oral and oropharyngeal cancers most commonly occur in the tongue, tonsils and oropharynx (the part of the throat behind the mouth), gums, floor of the mouth and other parts of the mouth.
According to the American Cancer Society, incidence rates in women increased by less than one percent per year from 2015 to 2019, but remained stable in men.
But the number of oropharyngeal cancers associated with HPV infection increased annually by 1.3 percent in women and 2.8 percent in men between 2015 and 2019.
The average age at diagnosis of oropharyngeal cancer is 64, but more than one in five cases occurs in people under 55.
The actor Michael Douglas was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2010.
When asked by The Guardian if he regrets the years of smoking and drinking that are believed to be related to his illness, the actor replied: “No.” Because without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV [human papillomavirus]which actually comes from cunnilingus [oral sex on a woman].
Dr. Sadovskaya said in her video: “Men are more likely to get throat cancer from oral sex with women because women are more likely to carry the virus in their genital area.”
Dr. Sadovskaya, who goes by @sadoskaya_doctor on TikTok, regularly shares everyday health insights and medical facts with her 90,000 social media followers.
She recently made headlines when she shared why it’s important to tie your hair back when you use the toilet to prevent fecal matter from attacking your skin.
In her latest video, which has been viewed more than 141,000 times, Dr. Sadovskaya found a frightening link between oral sex and throat cancer.
Oral sex can lead to an HPV infection in the back of the throat or near the tonsils.
These infections go away on their own in most cases, but can sometimes persist and cause cancer.
Speaking to NeedToKnow.co.uk, Dr. Sadovskaya: “Women who practice oral sex may also be at risk, especially if their partners have an oral HPV infection.”
“However, women are more likely to be infected with high-risk HPV strains through vaginal or cervical contact, which can lead to cervical cancer.”
Symptoms include chronic bad breath, persistent pain in the throat, neck or ears, and difficulty swallowing.
Other symptoms include blood in saliva, difficulty breathing, voice changes, persistent cough and a lump in the neck, said Dr. Sadovskaya.
To prevent this, she recommended an HPV vaccination HPV-related cancers.
There is a vaccine against HPV, but only 54 percent of Americans have received it — well below the 80 percent considered the threshold for population safety.
Dr. Sadovskaya said, “You can also perform regular HPV screenings and checks, which allow for early detection and treatment of infections or abnormalities.”
“It’s also important to practice safe sex using condoms,” she added.
Scientists at NYU Langone estimate that up to 70 percent of throat cancer cases are caused by HPV infections.
In the UK, head and neck cancer together cause more than 12,000 cases and 4,000 deaths each year.
Source link
Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
