Doctor Sparks Conversation About Oral Sex Link to Throat Cancer

Oral sex has been increasingly linked to throat cancers, as human papillomavirus (HPV), which infects the genitals, can be transferred to the mouth during the act. Men are also at higher risk given that women are more likely to carry the virus. 

But is oral sex now the leading cause of throat cancers? One popular TikTok doctor recently suggested so, sparking renewed conversation about the links between the diseases.

Dr. Daria Sadovskaya of Singapore, who offers daily health tips to her over 106,000 followers, recently made the claim in a short clip posted to the platform. Recalling an apparent question from a follower who asked, "Are you saying oral sex is proven to be [the] number one cause of throat cancer?" the 29-year-old responded by mouthing the lyrics "I said what I said" from Beyonce's 2003 hit single "Crazy in Love."

@sadovskaya_doctor

Don’t get scared by it, be aware and know how to protect your health and wellness. #femalehealthtips #femalehealthandwellness #reproductivehealthcare #throatcancerawareness

♬ PAINT THE TOWN RED X CRAZY IN LOVE BY ALTÉGO - ALTÉGO

The same claim was also made by The Conversation earlier this year, which cited a study that found in nearly 1,000 people who had tonsillectomies for non-cancer reasons in the UK, 80 percent of adults reported practicing oral sex at some point in their lives. The author concluded that a recent epidemic of oropharyngeal cancer, which affects the tonsils and back of the throat, was primarily caused by HPV, which is likewise the leading cause of cancer of the cervix. 

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 54,540 adults will be diagnosed with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer in 2023, and the cancer will claim about 11,580 deaths. It also states that these cancers are more than twice as common in men, with the lifetime risk being about 1 in 60 for men and 1 in 141 for women. While many sources cite HPV as an increasingly common cause, they also typically cite smoking tobacco and heavy alcohol consumption as leading causes.

Oddly enough, the conversation regarding the link between oral sex and throat cancer first made headlines a decade ago, when actor Michael Douglas—who had recently undergone treatment for advanced, stage IV throat cancer—seemed to suggest that oral sex was to blame.

In a June 2013 interview with The Guardian, Douglas was famously asked whether his years of heavy drinking and smoking had led to his diagnosis. "No," he told the publication. "No. Because, without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV, which actually comes about from cunnilingus."

"From cunnilingus," the Wall Street actor clarified, when the interviewer wondered if he had misheard. "I mean, I did worry if the stress caused by my son's incarceration didn't help trigger it. But yeah, it's a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer." 

"And if you have it, cunnilingus is also the best cure for it," he added with an apparent shrug. "It giveth and it taketh."

It didn't take long before a spokesman for Douglas walked back the remarks, claiming that the 79-year-old was making a general statement, and not that it necessarily led to his diagnosis. "In a discussion with the newspaper, they talked about the causes of oral cancer, one of which was oral sex, which is noted and has been known for a while now," the spokesperson said in a statement.

While the jury may still be out on whether oral sex is definitively the leading cause of throat cancer, at the very least anecdotal evidence suggests that it's increasingly common. And that's all the more reason to use protection when getting down and dirty with a new partner or someone who has been diagnosed with HPV, and getting vaccinated if you're eligible.