Skip to main content

Is ORAL SEX causing Throat Cancer Now Worse Than Cervical Cancer? The Shocking Truth with Data



In recent years, media outlets have warned that oral sex is fueling a “throat cancer epidemic” — some even claim it’s already more common than cervical cancer. That sounds like an alarm bell rung too loudly. So what does the science actually say? Let’s dive deep, backed by data.



🔬 The Biological Link: HPV, Oral Sex & Throat Cancer



  • The human papillomavirus (HPV), especially high-risk strains like HPV-16, is firmly linked to oropharyngeal (throat) cancers.
  • Oral sex is a documented route for transmitting HPV to the throat.
  • In high-income countries, the share of throat (oropharyngeal) cancers that are HPV-driven has grown. In the U.S., ~60–70% of oropharyngeal cancers are now attributed to HPV.
  • In the UK, ~51.8% of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) cases (2002–2011) were HPV-positive, and the overall incidence of OPSCC roughly doubled in that decade.




📈 Incidence Trends & Comparisons




United States



  • Among HPV-related cancers, oropharyngeal cancers now outnumber cervical cancers.
  • The incidence of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer in the U.S. has surged — some studies show ~225% increase over certain decades.
  • For context, lifetime risk (oral cavity + throat) is ~1 in 59 for men, ~1 in 139 for women in the U.S.




United Kingdom



  • In 2019 in England, 3,834 new oropharyngeal cancer cases were recorded — up ~47% since 2013.
  • Head & neck cancer diagnoses in the UK (~12,200 per year) have been rising, driven primarily by oropharyngeal cancers.
  • By contrast, cervical cancer in the UK is ~3,300 new cases per year (2017–2019).



Despite strong upward trends in throat cancer, cervical cancer in women remains a significant burden. It has also benefited from screening and vaccination efforts, causing its incidence to decline in many places.



⚖️ “Epidemic” or Not? Weighing the Word



“Epidemic” is dramatic. The rise in HPV-related throat cancers is real and concerning, but it has unfolded over years, not overnight. The shift is more of a slow-burning change in cancer epidemiology than a sudden explosion.


💡 So, Are Those Bold Claims Accurate?




Claim

Assessment


Claim

Assessment




Claim

Assessment

“Oral sex is causing a throat cancer epidemic”

Partially true — HPV via oral sex is a key driver of the rise in HPV-positive throat cancers, but not all throat cancers.

“More damaging than smoking, boozing, bad diet”

Overstated — smoking and alcohol remain major players, especially for HPV-negative cancers.

“Now more common than cervical cancer”

Valid within HPV-related cancers (in the U.S.) but too broad when generalized across all cancers.


Bottom Line

It’s not just clickbait: there is a serious and growing problem. HPV-driven throat cancers are on the rise, and in certain settings and demographics they now outstrip cervical cancers in terms of HPV-related incidence. But many claims blur important distinctions. The rise is real, but context matters.



📣 What You Can Do & What to Watch



  • Promote HPV vaccination (recommended for both sexes) — it prevents the high-risk types.
  • Maintain safer sex practices and be aware of HPV transmission routes.
  • Don’t skip screening programs (e.g. cervical screening in women) — they remain vital.
  • Stay updated on new research; this is an evolving field.

#HPV #ThroatCancer #OropharyngealCancer #CervicalCancer #CancerEpidemiology #OralHealth #CancerAwareness #Vaccination #PublicHealth

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can You Really Make Your Wife Orgasm—Or Is She Just Faking It?

  The night is silent. You’re lying beside the person you love. But after the act is over, a strange chill fills the room. No sound. No warmth. Just an invisible distance that feels miles wide. That silence— is it peace? Or the calm before a storm your marriage never recovered from? Let’s talk about the world’s most silent war zone : The Bedroom. For millions of couples, that sacred space of “love” has turned into a graveyard— where women bury their unfulfilled desires and men hide their broken confidence. This is not a comfortable read. It’ll shake what you think you know about love, masculinity, and intimacy. The Polite Orgasm — The Greatest Acting Performance in History Every night, millions of women around the world perform one silent play: They fake pleasure. They fake moans. They fake satisfaction. It’s called The Polite Orgasm. Men believe they’re great lovers. Women quietly hand them an Oscar-worthy performance. Why? Because she’s been told since chil...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why Some Women Feel Attracted to Married Men: The Psychology Behind a Quiet Global Pattern

  Attraction doesn’t always follow logic. Sometimes it grows out of emotional comfort, sometimes from curiosity, and often from deep psychological cues we don’t notice at first glance. One of the most common examples of this is the attraction some women feel toward married men. It’s not always romantic interest. Often, it comes from signals related to maturity, stability and the way someone handles relationships. The Hidden Psychology: Why Married Men Stand Out Around the world, researchers have found a similar pattern. A study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology showed that more than 60 percent of women found a man more attractive when they were told he was already in a relationship . When the same man was described as single, interest dropped sharply. This effect is known as mate-choice copying , and it shows up in both human behavior and animal groups. The logic is simple: if someone else has chosen this person, they must have qualities worth noticing. Younger ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pleasure in Meditation and Sex.

The idea that deep meditation can produce feelings of intense pleasure—sometimes compared to orgasmic states—has been discussed both in scientific literature and by advanced practitioners of meditation, particularly within traditions like Tibetan Buddhism, Theravāda Buddhism, and yogic practices. However, it’s important to approach this comparison carefully, as the nature of meditative bliss differs from sexual orgasm in physiological mechanisms, duration, and subjective experience. 1.  Bliss in Deep Meditation (Jhāna States) In Theravāda Buddhism, jhāna refers to a set of deeply absorbed states of concentration. The second through fourth jhānas, in particular, are said to involve profound states of pīti (rapture or joy) and sukha (pleasure or bliss). Pīti is described as a thrilling, energetic joy that can feel overwhelming. Sukha is a more tranquil, deep sense of well-being and pleasure. These feelings are not sexual in origin, but they are intense and can be more ...
Post a Comment
Read more