Prof. Adegboyega Fawole of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), has warned that Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), throat cancer has been found in people engaging in oral sex.
Fawole, who is of the Department of Gynaecology, UITH told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Tuesday that throat cancer was mostly sexually transmitted.
He said that the virus caused almost all cases of cervical cancer and could cause genital warts and anal cancer.
“Oral sex has been linked with an increased risk of acquiring HPV infection in the mouth and with an increased risk of developing oral cancers that are caused by HPV.
“However, sex, in general, has also been linked with these risks,” he said.
The gynecologist warned that those engaging in oral sex were twice more likely to have throat cancer infection than those who did not engage in oral sex.
Fawole, however, said there was no need for individuals in monogamous relationships to restrict their sexual activities if the pair was in good health.
He called on people to always go for screening and check-ups to guard against throat cancer of any kind.
About Oral Sex
Oral sex, sometimes referred to as oral intercourse, is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a person by another person using the mouth (including the lips, tongue, or teeth) or throat.
Cunnilingus is oral sex performed on a female, while fellatio is performed on a male.
Anilingus, another form of oral sex, is the oral stimulation of a person’s anus.
Oral stimulation of other parts of the body (as in kissing and licking) is usually not considered oral sex.
Oral sex may be performed as foreplay to incite sexual arousal before other sexual activities (such as vaginal or anal intercourse), or as an erotic and physically intimate act in its own right.
Like most forms of sexual activity, this kind of sex can pose a risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs).
However, the transmission risk for oral sex, especially HIV transmission, is significantly lower than for vaginal or anal sex.
It is often regarded as taboo, but most countries do not have laws that ban the practice.
Commonly, people do not regard this kind of sex as affecting the virginity of either partner, though opinions on the matter vary.
People may also have negative feelings or sexual inhibitions about giving or receiving this kind of sex, or may flatly refuse to engage in the practice.
