Men with multiple partners face bigger risk of getting HPV-related cancers

Men are at twice-fold risk of developing mouth and throat cancer linked to oral sex in comparison to women, finds a study. As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 90% and 80% of sexually active men and women are affected by Human papillomavirus (HPV) that spreads through oral sex.

Amongst all, middle-age white men are especially at high risk of developing the HPV-related cancers in comparison to men of other races. Nearly two of three HPV-related cancers in the US and many other western nations take place due to the HPV 16 strain infection.

The researchers have found that the risk of oral HPV cancer increases with if a man has more number of sexual partners. But the researchers said that the association seems to have opposite effect in women. Risk chances are not influenced for women even if she has more than one sexual partner.

In fact, women having more vaginal sexual partners appear to have reduced risk of oral HPV infection. Gypsyamber D’Souza, from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore explains a possibility that when women were first exposed to HPV vaginally, their body mounts an immune response that provides protection that prevents them from getting oral HPV infection. But such is not the case with men, as they might not have such great immune system.

“Our research shows that once you become infected, men are less likely to clear this infection than women, further contributing for the cancer risk”, said D’Souza. The researchers have mentioned high-risk HPV infection may disappear within one or two year without leading to cancer. But some cellular changes in the mouth and throat if left untreated may become cancerous.

Symptoms can develop after a person had sexual relation with someone who is infected. Other risk factors include smoking or chewing tobacco, a weak immune system and poor oral hygiene.

ApexTribune reported that, a new study has oral sex linked to cancer in men in a way that was not yet believed was possible for their gender. However, it seems that there’s not only a high risk, it’s even higher than it is for women.

According the study, HPV is a condition spreading rapidly that now affects 80% of sexually active women and 90% of sexually active men throughout the United States. It’s one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that was usually found in women after vaginal sex. More often, the virus can remain in the body for several years, but it’s usually cleared by the immune system. However, sometimes, it lingers and causes damage to the mouth and throat.

UniversityHerald report said, D'Souza also said that nearly two of three of these oral cancers in the U.S. and in many other western nations are caused by HPV 16 strain infection.

"Our research shows that for men, the number of oral sex partners - as that number increases, the risk of an oral HPV infection increases," D'Souza said, via The Daily Mail. "Comparing men and women with the same number of sexual partners, a man is much more likely to become infected with oral HPV than a woman."

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