Persons having more than 5 sexual partners have oral 250% more likely to develop throat cancer than those who have never practiced oral-genital sex, we learn of a new U.S. study. The human papillomavirus, or HPV, responsible for most cancers of the cervix, could be involved in the development of certain tumors of the throat, said the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers at the Faculty of Medicine, John Hopkins University (USA, Maryland) have collected samples of saliva and blood of 100 men and women who had just been diagnosed with cancer of the oropharynx and those of 200 men and women in good health. In parallel, 300 people responded to a questionnaire about their past sexual habits, including the number of people with whom they had had oral sex (fellatio or cunnilingus).
After taking into account the risk factors for development of cancer of the throat that are alcohol consumption and smoking, data analysis has shown that people with HPV virus had 32 times more likely to develop a cancer of the oropharynx, whereas alcohol and tobacco do than triple the risk. The oral sex are conducive to the development of this virus in the throat, this risk increases with the number of partners.
"Cancer of the oropharynx-located to the rear of the language is relatively rare and the vast majority of people with a mouth infection with HPV probably does not develop cancer of the throat, however, reassures Dr Maura Gillison , epidemiologist and lead author of this research.
Researchers at the Faculty of Medicine, John Hopkins University (USA, Maryland) have collected samples of saliva and blood of 100 men and women who had just been diagnosed with cancer of the oropharynx and those of 200 men and women in good health. In parallel, 300 people responded to a questionnaire about their past sexual habits, including the number of people with whom they had had oral sex (fellatio or cunnilingus).
After taking into account the risk factors for development of cancer of the throat that are alcohol consumption and smoking, data analysis has shown that people with HPV virus had 32 times more likely to develop a cancer of the oropharynx, whereas alcohol and tobacco do than triple the risk. The oral sex are conducive to the development of this virus in the throat, this risk increases with the number of partners.
"Cancer of the oropharynx-located to the rear of the language is relatively rare and the vast majority of people with a mouth infection with HPV probably does not develop cancer of the throat, however, reassures Dr Maura Gillison , epidemiologist and lead author of this research.
