Hisham Mehanna, a professor at the University of Birmingham's Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, has conducted research that revealed oral sex to be the primary cause of throat cancer in the Western world.

According to the study, there has been a significant rise in oropharyngeal cancer cases during the previous 20 years, which many have called an epidemic.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of oropharyngeal cancer, which attacks the tonsils and the back of the throat.

HPV is also the main cause of cervical cancer, and it has now surpassed cervical cancer in prevalence in both the US and the UK.

Mehanna says the virus is sexually transmitted, and the primary risk factor for developing oropharyngeal cancer is the number of lifetime sexual partners, particularly those involving oral sex.

Individuals with six or more lifetime oral sex partners are 8.5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer compared to those who have not practised oral sex.

According to behavioral research, oral sex is common; 80% of adults in the UK claim having had oral sex at some point in their lives, according to Mehanna. Only a small percentage of these people go on to acquire oropharyngeal cancer, despite its high frequency.

According to the widely accepted idea, the majority of people are able to naturally recover from HPV infections, but a tiny percentage are unable to, perhaps as a result of an immune system malfunction, which permits the virus to continue replicating and possibly lead to cancer.

To combat this growing health issue, Mehanna says many countries have implemented HPV vaccination programmes for young girls to prevent cervical cancer. Increasing evidence suggests that these vaccines may also be effective in preventing HPV infections in the mouth, thus reducing the risk of oropharyngeal cancer.

Additionally, boys are benefiting from herd immunity in regions with high vaccine coverage among girls. Countries such as the UK, Australia, and the US have now extended their HPV vaccination recommendations to include young boys, adopting a gender-neutral vaccination policy.

Mehanna does point out that universal vaccination programs do not ensure complete coverage, though. Hesitancy and resistance to vaccines because of safety worries or worries that they encourage promiscuity continue to be major obstacles.

Reaching youth has become much more difficult as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, which has also led to an increase in anti-vaccine sentiment. In order to combat this escalating health risk, Professor Mehanna's findings highlight the critical need for greater vaccination coverage and awareness. Policymakers and public health authorities